The present state of the empire of Morocco. Its animals, products, climate, soil, cities, ports, provinces, coins, weights, and measures. With the language, religion, laws, manners, customs, and character, of the Moors; the history of the dynasties since Edris; the naval force and commerce of Morocco; and the character, conduct, and views, political and commercial, of the reigning emperor

BOSTON UNIVERSITY

College of Liberal Arts
Library

GRADUATE SCHOOL
AFRICAN STUDIES

THE

PRESENT STATE

OF THE

EMPIRE of MOROCCO.

ITS

ANIMALS, PRODUCTS, CLIMATE, SOIL,
CITIES, PORTS, PROVINCES, COINS,
WEIGHTS, and MEASURES. With the
LANGUAGE, RELIGION, LAWS, MAN-
NERS, CUSTOMS, and CHARACTER,

OF THE

MOORS;

THE HISTORY OF THE
DYNASTIES since EDRIS;

The NAVAL FORCE and COMMERCE of MO-
ROCCO ; and the CHARACTER, CONDUCT, an»
VIEWS, POLITICAL and COMMERCIAL,

OF T H E

REIGNING EMPEROR.

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF

M. CHENIER.

VOL. II.

LONDON:
Printed for G. G. J. and J. ROBINSON,

Paternofter-Row.

M.DCC.LXXXVIIL

3/^

as

THE

PRESENT STATE

OF THE

EMPIRE of MOROCCO.

BOOK ill.

Hiftory of the Sovereigns of Fez, Morocco, Suz,
and other States — Different Dynafties from the
foundation of the kingdom of Fez, to the fuccef-
fion of the Sharifs of the reigning family.

CHAP. I.

Decline of the Empire of the Caliphs. Accef

fion^ and reign of Edris. Expu/fion and

dejlrudilon of his family . Various ufurpers*

AFTER the Arabs had poffeffed them-

felves of Mauritania, and had introduced

their religion there, it was for fame time

Vol. II, B governed

[ * ]

governed by the lieutenants of the Ca-
liphs. The diftance of the feat of go-
vernment of thefe Caliphs, who, extending
their conquefts, had fucceflively removed
their throne from Medina to Damafcus,
from Damafcus to Cufa, and from Cufa to
Bagdad, foou changed the order of things,
and infenfibly enfeebled their authority.
The Arab generals in Africa profited by
thefe circumitances in favour of their am-
bitious projects, excited commotions to-
ward the end of the eighth century, and
afpired themfelves at fovereignty. The
defcendants of Mahomet, called, as it
were, to the throne by the veneration in
which they were held by the vulgar, raifed
new factions ; the Edriffites, who took
their name from Edris, fon of Abdallah,
defcendant of AH, hufband to the daughter
of Mahomet, were the firft. From Her-
belot it appears that their dynafty was ex-
terminated by the Fatimites, who pre-
tended they were the defcendants of All
and Fatima, the daughter of Mahomet ;
this latter dynaftv, the founder of which
took the name of Mohadi, director of the
faithful;, had tome fuccefs in Egypt ; but

its

t S )

its duration m Mauritania* which was ex-
pofed to numerous revolutions, was only
momentary i This part of Africa was af-
terward governed by four principal dy-
nafties, the Morabethoon, the MoahedinSj
the Benimerins, and the Sharifs of two
different branches.

Africa* remaining in the power of the
Arabs from the beginning of the eighth
century, was governed by the lieutenants
of the Caliph Walid, and his fucceflbrSj
till the year 739, of the Chriftian aera*
Yezid, lieutenant of the Caliph Omar IL,
who then governed, being deceafed at Cay-
roan, Abul-Hages, who had been lieutenant
of the Caliph Abdelmelek, took advantage
of his death to raife an infurreclion, and,
at the head of the infurgents, reduced the
country, proceeded as far as the north of
Mauritania, and, defying every effort o£
Gualid, eftablifhed himfelf as the com-
mander of the faithful. It is probable
Gualid was the chief of the principal trite
that then inhabited the province of Rif in
the leffer Atlas, where ft ill is found the
Cafile of Beni-Gualid. This Shaik, whom
B % his

C 4 J

life tribe confidered as King, oppofed with
all his power the invafion of foreigners, in
a country which has ever been ftrongly de-
fended by nature,,

We learn, from the Spanifh authors, that
the oppreffions of the Arabs in the north
of Mauritania, and the contributions they
exacted from the Moors, gave birth to
many revolts, in which the negroes, who
inhabited the defer ts to the fouth of
Morocco, took part. The Caliph, in-
formed of thefe commotions, fent a co»-
iiderable reinforcement of cavalry, which
produced not the leaft effect ; the Arabs
and their horfes having been terrified by
that multitude of black men, who, riding
almoft naked, had an appearance of great
Ferocity, and infpired dread.

The ex-ample of thefe feditions had a
bad effect in Spain, where the Arabs and
Moors were equally divided and agitated.
Abul-Hages having been flam in the in-
furrections of Africa, his fon put himfelf
at the head of the weftern Africans ; nor
was the revolt appeafed till the fon alfo
% ' fell

[ 5 3

fell in battle, combating the army of the
governor of Egypt,

At the fame period the Caliph Abdallah,
competitor of the Caliph Abdelmelek, who
had rendered himfelf mafter of the He-
gias, defirous of afcertaining the Caliphet
to his fon Mahomet Mahadi, put to death
gll the kinfmen of Ali at Medina, forget-
ting only one old man, the defcendant of
Haflan, fon of Ali, fon in law of Maho-
met, whofe pofterity a fpecial providence
feemed to protect. One of the fons of this
old man was beheaded ; the other, named
Edris, had the good fortune to efcape, and
fled in 768 into Mauritania, there to avoid
the perfecuting fword. Edris fettled at
Tiuiit, in ths mountain of Zaaron, be-
tween Fez and Mequinez, where he be-
haved with fo much prudence that he
gained the confidence of the people, who,
highly refpefting his virtues, were defirous
to live under his government, and embrace
his religion. The arrival of this Edris,
his exemplary conduit, and the leffons he
gave, firft fcattered the feeds of Mahome-
tanifm in thefe countries, where that relt«?

B 3 §ionl

[ 6 )

gion, having great analogy with the man-
ners of the Moors, was well calculated tp
make a rapid progrefs.

Edris, profiting by his afcendant over
the minds of men, fent troops into Spain
to fuccour the Mahometans ; and this zeal
for the propagation of his religion {till in-
preafed the affeftion of the Moors. Edris
dying ltft a poflhumous fon, who vvas
alfo named Edris, and whom, out of r€-»
fpe£t for the father's memory, the people
acknowledged as Sovereign : it even ap-
pears that, during the minority of this
prince, the Moorifh armies gained fome
victories.

In 793 Edris II. founded the city of
Fez, capital of the kingdom fo called.
This was the firft monarchy eftabliihed in
Africa after Mahomet ; and the Mahome-
tans long called it the court, or kingdom
of the weft. Edris interefted himfelf
much in favour of the Arab Moors in
Spain ; and having profited by the wrar,
and by the ceconomy he had eftablifhed,
he continued building the city of Fez in

840,

C 7 1

840, and ere&ed the mofque called after
his name, In which his memory and his
tomb are ftill held in reverence.

The ardour with which this prince in-
fpired the Mahometan Africans induced
them to build in the fame city the famous
mofque called Carubin, for which the city
was indebted, perhaps, to the devotion and
liberalities of the people of Cayroan, who,
having retired to Fez that they might not
be expofed to the commotions which then
difturbed the eaftern part of Africa, may
have contributed to the foundation of that
magnificent mofque.

We are not acquainted with the race of
the kings of Mauritania, the defendants
of Sidi-Edris, but we know that family
continued to reign, and that Edris beftowed
the government of cities on ten of his
fons. From Marmol we learn that the
houfe of Edris and the houfe of Mcqui-
neci reigned in Mauritania in 914, and that
Mahomet Motayas, Lord of Ceuta, paffed
over into Spain, with troops, at the folicita-
tion of Abdeirahaman, kins: of Cordova,
B 4 He,

[ 8 J

He afterwards fent new reinforcements
from Mauritania into Spain in 920 and

The divifions which were in the king-
dom of Fez, during the tenth century, were
but the prefage of thofe'by which that
empire has io long been convulfed ; and
the family of Edris, .that had reigned
about a hundred and fifty years, was dis-
turbed by a croud of ufurpers. The tribe
of Zenetes, called Mequineci, feized about
that time on feveral provinces, and founded
the city of Mequinez, nearly ten leagues
from Fez. A Marabout of that tribe9
profiting about the fame time by the fluc-
tuating ftate and credulity of the people,
feduced their minds by fanatic predictions,
nnd brought much difcredit on the fuccef-
ibrs of Edris. Having formed a con-
siderable party in the province of Tem-
fena, he marched againft the king of Fez,
declared war againft him ; and the latter,
wearied of that he fuftained againft the
Zenetes, rather chofe to conclude a peace,
and yield him the crown, than to behold

an

E 9 ]

an increafe of enemies, or expofe himfelf
to the ficklenefs of his fubjefts.

The progrefs thefe miffionaries made in
Mauritania, among an ignorant people
flocking after innovators, raifed up one
who proclaimed himfelf El-Mohadi, the
director, or pontif, of the Muflulmen, a
defcendant of Ali and Fatima, and whofe
origin, according to Herbelot, was doubt-.
ful : this man declaimed againft the houfe
of Edris, which he accufed of herefy, and
of following the feci of Ali, a feclary un-
known to the Moors. Having made him*
felf mafter of various cities, he depofed the
ions of Edris from their governments be-
Fore the fuccours they had intreated from
the king of Cordova were arrived. El-
Mohadi cut off the defcendants of Edris,
after having feized on their governments *f
declared himfelf Caliph, and marched to-
ward Mount Atlas to extend his domains,

* One of thefe princes, named Sharif El-Edrim*, author
of the work, entitled Geographia Nubicnjis, fled at this time
into Sicily to the court of King Roger, to whom he dedi-
cated hi* bookB

Arrived

C 10 3

Arrived at Sugulmefla, the governor had
him feized as an impoftor ; but, fearing to
irritate the people, and refpecting his ori-
gin, lie calling himfelf the descendant of
Fatima, the daughter of Mahomet, the go-
vernor gave him his liberty.

El-Mohadi was in the fouth, when one
of the generals of the king of Cordova
•arrived with an army to aid the houfe of
Edris : this general, named Al-Habid El-
Monibr, conquered a part of the kingdom
of Fez, fortified Arzilla near Tangier s,
left a garrifon there, and that city for fomc
time remained under the government ot
the kings of Cordova*

By this revolution El-Mohadi could not
preferve the kingdom of Fez to himfelf.
This prince going to vifit the governor of
Sugulmefla, that he might gratify the re-
fentment he had conceived againft him,
affaffinated him, excited new troubles, and
thus became odious to the people who had
followed his ftandard, The ufurper,
whefe reign was momentary in Mauri*
tjinia, was obliged to pais into the eaftero

fart

[ H 1

part of Africa, where he met with new
obftacles from another bigot, who, in turn,
had brought him into difcredit, in the opi-
nion of the people whom he had deceived
by an affe&ation of humility. This latter
chief was, in derilion, called the Knight of
the Afs, becaufe one part of his pretended
humblenefs confided in always riding on
an afs, with his face covered like the Mo*
lathemins, Molathemins is a name given
in Africa to a tribe who, going to battle
with another more powerful, obliged the
women to take arms ; and, that they might
not be diftinguifhed, the men, like them,
artfully veiled their faces*

All Africa at this time was torn by divi-
(ions, on a tradition that, three hundred
years after Mahomet, another dire&or of
the faithful, or Mohadi, fhould come from
the weft ; and various impoftors profiting
by this tradition impofed on the vulgar
credulity, that they might feize the go-
vernment. Obeidallah, founder of the
dynafty of the Fatimites, left Sugulmeffa,
and, penetrating as far as Egypt, he there
vanquifhcd the troops of the Caliph. The

wars

[ n ]

wars he fuftained in Egypt, Syria, and the
eaftern parts of Africa, changed the fili-
ation of affairs in the weft, where a fuc-
ceflion of innovators, profiting by thefe di-
yifions to the furtherance of their projefts,
reciprocally fnatched the fceptre from the
power of their predeceffors.

CHAR

t '3 I

CHAP. IL

Of the Dynqfty of Morabethoon*

xYBU-Teffifin Marabout, nephew of
Abu-Beker Ben-Omar, of the tribe of
Lumthimes *, and chief of the Morabe-
thoon, profited by the commotions which
had drawn the arms of the Arabs toward
Egypt to produce an infurreclion ; he fent
Marabouts to preach, and excite the people
to revolt, under the pretext of defending
their liberties. The Moors, weary of the
arbitrary government of thefe Arab fo-
reigners, willingly followed the ftandard of

* The country which the Marabouts inhabited, lying
between Mount Atlas and the defertj was called Lamtha;
whence the tribe had the name of Lamthoonah, or Lunv
thunes*

Herhelot, Bih. Orleiu

Teffifm,

t h :

Teffifin, who prefently found himfelf af
the head of a numerous army*

The tribe of this chief was furnamed
Morabethoon, becaufe of the rigidity with
which religion was by them oblerved ; the
word Marabout fignifying a monk, or a
man engaged to the performance of his
vow. This tribe firft took birth in the
neighbourhood of Tunis, but was obliged
to leave that country for the weftern part of
Africa, that it might efcape the pcrfecution
of fefts more voluptuous, whofe intereft it
was to extirpate this riling tribe,

Abu-Teffifin, at the head of his fol-
lowers, traverfed Mount Atlas in 1051,
and conquered the city of Agmet and its
environs : here he fixed his refidence, at the
foot of Mount Atlas, extended thence his ccn-
quefts northward, and proclaimed himfelf
Emir El-Mumenin, or chief of tne faithful.
He is one of the fir ft fovereigns known of
the race of Morabethoon, or more com-
monly called Morabites ; his armies were
conftantly victorious, and, after various

battles,

[ 15 3

battles, he remained fovereign of Mauri-
tania.

Abu-Teffifin died in 1086, and was fuo
ceeded by his fon Jofeph, whofe fubjefts
proclaimed him King *. This prince not
being pleafed with the fituation of the city
of Agmet, at the foot of the mountains,
built or finifhed that of Marakefch, or Mo-
rocco, which had been begun by his fa-
ther, and there eftablifhed his feat of em-
pire.

During his reign the province of Tem-
fena afforded an afylum to a multitude of
Zenetes, who preached new errors. Jo-
feph was very induftrious to prevent thefe
innovations among his fubjefts, and fent
them Morabite preachers to reconvert them
to their former religion ; but the people,
fond of novelty, were fo far from liitaning
to the remonftrances of the reformers,

* The Arab authors of Spain cal] this prince Abul-
ia Ibrahim-Ben Jofeph-Ben-Teffifin. It was the cuftom of
thefe people to call their children by the names of their an*

C-ftorj,

whom

whom Jofeph had fent them, that they put
them to death at Anafai, where they were
affembled*

Irritated by a conducl: fo infolent, Jofeph
pafled the Morbeya with a powerful army*
At the news of his march the Zenetes,
with their chief, thought proper to retreat,
and proceeded toward Fez, where they
demanded aid of the king ; but this prince,
inftead of granting fuccour to thefe public
difturbers, went in fearch of them with his
forces, and, having come up with them
on the banks of the Buregreb, where they
were harraffed with famine and fatigue, he
fell upon them, and cut them in pieces,

Jofeph, after having ravaged the lands
of Temfena, and deftroyed all its habita-
tions, returned victorious to Moroccci.
Ambitious and defirous of extending his
power, he fome time after marched with
his army and made war on the king of Fez,
whom he vanquished ; taking advantage of
the inconftancy of the people, he feized
on his kingdom, which was thus, for the
firft time, united to that of Morocco,

EiiCOU-

C >7 1

Encouraged by the fuccefs of his arms-,
Jofeph advanced as far as Tremecen, thence
he proceeded to Bugia, and having obliged
the Moors of that part of Africa, and
even thofe of Tunis, to become his vafTals,
he once more returned triumphant to Mo-
rocco, where he was again proclaimed, with
this increafe of powen> commander of the
faithful. He afterward made war upon
the Brebes, who had retired among the
mountains, and over whom he gained fe-
veral advantages.

The vi&ories of Jofeph Ben-Teffifin
had acquired him reputation fo great that,
in 1097, the Mahometan kings of Spain
fought his alliance, and even offered him
the fupreme fovereignty, hoping, by his af-
fiftance, they fhould be enabled once more
to eftablifh and extend their empire. On
this invitation Jofeph pafTed over into An-
dalufia, andj joining his forces to thofe of
the Mahometans of Spain, conquered the
city of Seville and its environs ; whence,
after projecting further victories, he re-
turned into Africa to make the neceflary
preparations.

Vol. II. C In

[ i) ]

In Africa, Jofeph proclaimed the Ga-
zia, or war, of religion. Having affem-
bled numerous troops, drawn together by
fanaticifm, and the hope of plunder, he
inarched, embarked at Ceuta, and pro-
ceeded to Malaga. This campaign, and
thofe which followed, were highly glo-
rious to the king of Morocco, fince, in
1102, he was mailer of all Andalufia,
Grenada, and Murcia, and in the fame
year returned into Africa loaded with
laurels.

The following yea-rs this prince again
paffed over into Spain to continue his con-
quefts, penetrated as far as Cordova, and
gained feveral battles, particularly that
fought on the twenty-ninth of May, 1 107,
againft the army of Don Alphonfo VI.
whofe fon, Don Sancho, the commander,
with fix other of the firft nobility, loft
their lives. This is the battle which the
Spaniards have called the battle of the
leven Counts. After this victory Jofeph
returned to Morocco, where he died, in
1 1 io, and was fucceeded by his fon Ali»

Alx,

' [ i9 3

All, the fon of Jofeph, third king of
Morocco, of the race of Morabethoon,
built the grand rriofque at Morocco, conti-
nued to fuccour the Mahometans of Spain ,
and made his power refpedted there by the
armies which he perfonally headed, be-
tween the years 1112 and 11 15. Some
authors fay he was killed at the battle of
Morieila, where his army was attacked by
that of king Alphonfo ; that his fon>
Teffifin-Ben-Ali, continued in Spain with
fome troops, and that the remainder were
tranfported into Africa.

Brahem, the fon of Ali, and the laft
king of Morocco, of the fame dynafty, who
was* proclaimed after the death of his fa-
ther, confirmed the princes who governed
the oriental provinces dependent on him in
their poiTeffions, and was declared com-
mander of the faithful. Africa, under the
vreign of this prince, was tdrn by inteftine
divifionsj which were fatal to the dynafty
of the Morabites. and which did not per-
mit Brahem to go himfelf into Spain, nor
to maintain that fovereignty there which
the Arab Moors had offered to his ancef-
G % tors.

C * ]

fbrs$ and which they had fo well deferred
by their valour.

The governors of the principal places
of Andalufia profited by this momentary
weaknefs to erecl: the cities and provinces,
over which they preiided, into fmall prin-
cipalities : the king of Morocco was at this
time too much employed in oppoiing the
iniurgents of his own ftates to prevent
thefe their ufurpations. Brahem was befide
an indolent prince, and addicted to plea-
fure ; to the gratification of which he fa*
crificed affairs the raoft important. His
fubjects, at length, loaded with taxes, and
oppreffed, refufed to acknowledge him as
their mafter*

The relaxed ftate of the government*
and the difcontent of the people, favoured
a revolt, which was at this time incited to-
ward Mount Atlas by another innovator^
who, afluming the impofing title of Mo-
hadi, director of the faithful, entered Mau-
ritania, and drew the people to his party,
who were eafy to fed uce, by projects of
reformation.

Tins

[ 2' ]

This preacher, whofe name was Ma-
homet Abdaliah, calling himfelf a defcen-
dant of Ali, met, according to Herbeiot,
near Melilla, another doctor, named Ab-
dulmomen, who laid he was the Mohadi,
or prophet, expected at the end of ages.
Thefe two men, united, approaching Mo-
rocco, preached there publicly, drew over
profelytes to their belief, and Abdaliah
\vas acknowledged king.

Br ahem, abforbed in pleafure, had de-
fpifed this revolution, but was at length
obliged to head his army, and give the Re-
former battle, who was now become ftrong
in confequence of difcontent and enthu-
fiafm. Brahem was defeated, and forced
to fty, Purfued from one place of refuge to
another, he at length came to Oran,
where the Moors, not daring to expofe
themfelves to the refentment of Abdul-
momen, who was following to take Bra-
hem, refufed him an afylum. Brahem,
feeing himfelf thus hunted,, unable to fur-
vive his grief, threw himfelf, according to
fome hiftorians, headlong from a rock ;
Others affirm he perifhed in a caftle, which
C 3 W"M

[ 32 ]

was fired by Abdulmomen, and the death
of this prince ended the dynafty of Mora-
bethoon.

Abdulmomen, general of Abdallah,
having fubje&ed all the provinces of Mau-
ritania to the power of his matter, during
this expedition, and bearing with him hof-
tages to infure their fubmiffion, returned to
Morocco. Here he found Mahomet Ab-
dallah dead in his camp. The chiefs, being
affembled, acknowledged Abdulmomen,
who alfo affirmed himielf one of the de*
fcendants of Mahomet and Ali, their fove«*
reign, and commander of the faithful.

CHAP,

C *3 ]

CHAP. III.

Dynqjiy of the Moahedr.

ins

AbDULMOMEN '* was the firft king
of the race of the Moahedins, whom the
Spaniards have called Almohades ; he
was chofen king of Morocco in 1 1 48 :
after his election he deftroyed the city of
Morocco, into which the inhabitants re-
fufed him entrance, and which they would
have preferved for Ifac fon of Brahem.
Abdulmomen was fo enraged at this
that he made a vow the city Ihould pafs
through a fieve.

After carrying Morocco by affault, he,
with his own hands, ftrangled the young

* Herbelot calls him Mohamet Abdulmomen Ben-Tom.
rut ; according to Marmol, his name was Abulmomen Ben-
Abdallah Ben-Ali.

C 4 Ifac,

I u ]

Ifac, fou of Brahem, who had there been
acknowledged king, and who was the laft
of the houfe of Teffifin, the founders of
Morocco, as well as of the empire. Ab-
dulmomen, that he might perform his
vow, reduced a part of that capital to
duft, and paffed its afhes through a fieve ;
and that he might leave no veftige of the
grandeur of its kings, and bury their
name in oblivion, he deftroyed their pa-
laces and mofques.

This prince afterward rebuilt the city,
and gave orders that all the Morabethoon
found throughout his empire mould be put
to death, that he might have nothing to
fear from their vengeance. The animofity
that was maintained, between thefe two
feels, occafioned a fucceffioii of revolutions
in Africa, while they mutually enfeebled
each other, and gave the eaftern provinces
the power of making off the yoke of the
kings of Morocco, and ele&ing indepen-
dent chiefs for themfelves.

Abdulmomen, however, remained mat-
ter of all Mauritania, and preferved the

two

[ *5 3

two kingdoms of Fez and Morocco, which
had been united under Jofeph Teffifin.
He was alfo able, in 1149, to fend aid to
the Mahometans of Spain, and to permit
jhem to recruit among the mountains of
Gomera, between Tetuan and Tremecen.
In 115I5, the power of this prince being
ftill more firmly eftabliihed, the Mahome-
tans of Grenada and of Jaen, who flood
in need of his fupport, offered him homage
and fubmiflion ; he accordingly lent thirty
thoufaud men to their fuccour.

This army having been vanquished, Ab^
dulmomen fent more confiderable rein-
forcements, by which the Mahometans of
Spain were empowered to prolong the
war with fome fuccefs. This prince had
an intention of going himfelf into Spain
with a mighty army, but he died in
1 1 55 during thefe his preparations. The
caftle of Bulahuan, in the province of
Duquella, is faid to have been built by Ab-
dulmomen ; it has fince been augmented
and embellifhed by a Sharif of the reigning
family,

After

I 26 ]

After the death of Abdulmomen, his
fon Jofeph was unanimoufly acknow-
ledged king of Morocco. Jofeph, out of
deference to the memory of his father,
and alfo to merit the love of his fubje£ts,
teftified his averfion to the Chriftians, and
paffed over into Spain, in 1158, with a
powerful army. On his arrival, the Ma-
hometan kings of Andalufia, as well from
refpect to his power, as to acknowledge
the fervices they received, fwore fidelity to
him, and proclaimed him fovereign. The
kings of Murcia and Valencia, who were
more diftant, were the fole who did not
think proper to fubmit. Having united
his army with that of the Arab Moors in.
Spain, Jofeph feized on fome places in de-
fpite of the efforts of Don Sancho III.
The nobility who commanded the army of
the latter, confulting their valour only,
followed Jofeph to Seville, and gained a
victory over him under the walls of that
city. Profiting by the divifions of the
Spaniards, Jofeph, the next campaign,
obliged the kings of Valencia and Murcia
to become his vaflals.

Jofeph

[ *7 ]

Jofeph remained at Seville till the year
j 168 employed in making incurfions upon
the territories of the Chriftians, or in re-
pelling thofe which the Chriftians made on
his domains. Receiving information at
this time that fome tribes of the Zenetes
had taken advantage of his abfence to raife
commotions in his African ftaHes, he re-
turned thither ; and, after having quelled
the infurgents, again came to Spain in
ji 71 with a powerful army,

Jofeph now obliged all the Mahometan
kings to acknowledge him fove reign, nor
was there one who did not pay him
homage : he continued to keep up his
armies in Spain, where his fon long com-
manded during his abfenee ; he once more
returned thither in 1 184, and took the city
of Sanclaren by aflauit. He was attacked
before this place by the armies of the kings
of Portugal and Leon, and, falling from
his horfe, was killed by the accident ; this
occasioned the lots of the battle, and moft
of the Moors who compofed his army re-
turned into Africa.

No-

C «« 3

No fooner was the death of Jofeph
known in Africa than feveral divifions
arofe among the Moors ; but Abu-Jacob,
his fon,furnamed Almonfor, the invincible,
and who had already diftinguimed himfelf
at the head of armies, having taken upon
him the government of the empire, fub-
dued thefe commotions, and was pro*
claimed Emperor,

The kings of Tunis and Tremecen, who
had been feudatory dependents on his an-
ceftors, and who were defirous to fhake off
this dependency, endeavoured to incite n>
bellion among the diftant tribes that they
might embarrafs Jacob. This prince
marched with his forces, and, after having
reftored tranquillity, he transported thofe
tribes, among whom commotions had been
incited, to the centre of his empire, and
difperfed them, through the different pro-
vinces of his ftates, fo diftant from each
other that they might be unable to re-
unite. This is a political fyftem which all
the kings of Morocco have obferved with re*-
fpect to powerful tribes ; and, thus divided,
by the prudence or caprice of the fove-

reiscns.

C *9 ]

reighs, thefe tribes have infenfibly loft all
memory of their origin.

The conduct, courage, and activity, of
Jacob, foon eftablimed his fupremacy over
the African coafts as far as Tunis, and at
the fame time preferved that which had
been acquired over the Arab Moors of
Spain. Of all the fovereigns who have
reigned in Africa after the Caliphs, he was,
beyond difpute, the mofl powerful ; thence
happened it that he acquired the furname
of Almonfor, the invincible, to which
might likewife be added the magnificent.

Almonfor built the caftle of Manfooria,
at the entrance of the province of Tern-
fena, eight leagues from Sallee, of which
fome ruins ftill remain ; the city of Al-
caffar-Quiber, three leagues from Laracha ;
that of Alcaflar-Seguar, fituated on the
ftraits of Gibraltar, between Tangiers and
Ceuta; and the city of Rabat, facing
•Saliee. After erecting a caftle toward the
fea for the defence of this laft place, he
built in a vaft enclofure, ruins of which
ftill exift, magnificent palaces, that
2 time,

- ' C 3° ]

time, infurre&ions, and the caprices of
jnen, have laid wafte. During fummer
this prince refided in that beautiful cinc-
ture called Guadel, where tafte and fplendor
were alike difplayed. He alfo employed
Rabat as a place of arms, whence he
might with facility invade Spain with his
forces.

After adding the furname of invincible
to that of commander of the faithful, Ja-
cob Almonfor paffed over into Spain with
a powerful army ; but the ficklenefs of
the Moors being incited by his abfence
throughout the vail: ftates he poffeffed in
Africa, he was obliged to return without
performing any memorable adl. Marmol
fays, he left a part of his army under the
command of Don Ferdinand Ruis de Caf-
tro, lieutenant general, who, although a
Chriftian, had entered into his fervice from
motives of difcontent*

No fooner had Jacob Almonfor again
reduced his fubjefts to fubordination
than he publiihed the Gazia, or war
againft the infidels, Similar to the crufades

[ 3* ]

of the Chriftians ; the Moors flocked in
multitudes to his ftandard, and he em-
barked for Spain with a powerful army,
where, being landed, he marched toward
Toledo. Alphonfo 111. coming to oppofe
him was not terrified by the numbers of the
Moors, but moft valoroufly attacked the
army of Jacob, which defended itfelf with
intrepidity, and which gained a complete
viclory over the Chriftians, in fight of the
town of Alar-cos, July the eighteenth,
1 1 95. This victorious army had a conti-
nuation of fuccefs till the year 1 197, when.
Almonfor, having figned a truce with the
king of Caftile, returned into Africa,
where new commotions rendered his pre-
fence neceffary.

The governor of Morocco, profiting by
the ab fence of Jacob Almonfor to incite
the neighbouring people to revolt, the lat-
ter, on his return, found them all in arms*
The intimidated rebels, not daring to wak
this valiant prince in the open field, flint
themfelves up in that capital, which he
was obliged to befiege. Almonfor, having
palled a tedious year under the walls of the

place,

[ 3* 1

place, determined to fcale the city ; and,
animatedly addrefling his foldiers, fhewed
them t at , independent of the glory they
would acquire in taking Morocco, there
was ftill a more legitimate and more ho-
nourable motive, that of recovering their
wives and children, who wTere then in the
power of the ufurpers.

Enflamed by his difcourfe, the befiegers
affaulted the city, which was unable to re-
lift their impetuofity ; and, falling furp-
oufly upon the inhabitants, put all to death
they met. Almonfor, that he might chaA
tife the rebels, even after their death, re-
fufed them the rites of burial * ; and,
wrhen he was reminded of the effects which
might refult from putrefaction, faid,
" Nothing fmells fo well as the body
** of a dead enemy, and efpeciaily of a
" traitor."

* The Moors believe that the fouls of bodies, deprived
of the rites of burial, are driven from the abodes of
the bleffed. Iti fabulous ages it was further believed that
the fouls of fuch bodies wandered on the banks of Cocytusy
and were cefufed admittance into the Elifian fields

After

33 ]
After Almonfor had taken Morocco, the
governor, having (hut himfelf up in the
eaftle with fome foldiers, mediated his
peace by the good offices of a Marabout,
whofe fanctity was held in. veneration ;
but Almonfor, although he had granted
this man pardon, put him to death the
moment he had him in his power, and, by
the violation of his promife, tarnifhed his
glory. The Marabout reproached him with
his ill faith. I am not, anfwered the prince,
obliged to keep my word with thofe who
have forfeited theirs.

According to the Arab hiftorians, the
fovereign, full of regret for not having
obferved his promife, difappeared, and
wandered over the world. The probabi-
lity is that this prince performed the pil-
grimage to Mecca, as a private perfon, in
expiation of his crime. His brother, Bra-
hem, governed during his abfence ; but, he
not returning in the fpace of a year, his
ion, Mahomet Ben-Naffer, called alfo Naf-
fer-Al-Melek Ben-Manfoor, was pro-
claimed king by the people.

Vol. II. D Mahomet

C 54 ]

Mahomet Ben-Naffer, having fucceedecf
his father in i2jo, confirmed the princes
of Africa in the poffeffion of their ftates2
and broke the truce which Almonfor had
concluded with Alphonfo of Caftile. This
prince being defirous of extending his con-
quefts in Spain, went- thither with a pow-
erful army, conquered fome towns, ravaged
their territories, and returned to repofe un-
der the walls of Cordova. Thither Al-
phonfo, having received coiifiderable rein-
forcements- from the Christian princes,
marched to give the king of Morocco bat-
tle. The two armies met on the fixteenth
of July, 121 2, in the plains of Tolofo, and
the Moors fuffered a total rout. This de-
feat, befide humbling the Mahometans,
infinitely decfeafed that confideration in
which Mahomet Ben-Naffer had been
held.

After this a&ion Mahomet returned to
Africa, and left the command of his army
to his brother Abeu Saad, living himfelf in
a kind of retirement ; and, defpifed by his
fubjefts, who, prejudiced as they were, at>
* tributed

I 35 3

tributed the lofs of the battle to his ill
conduit and cowardice.

Preyed upon by chagrin, Mahomet Ben-
Naffer died a fhort time after, and left his
empire to Said Barrax, one of his grand-
fons, againft whom the governors of the
eaftern provinces of Tremecen and Tunis
revolted* Said raifed an army in fupport
of his authority, but, having been aflaffi-
nated by a traitor, the fpirit of difcord re-
newed its progrefs.

After the death of Said, the principal
perfons of the Moahedins elected his uncle,
AbdelCader, in his ftead ; but, this prince
not having gained the confidence of the
people, and finding that, in thefe times of
trouble, his party was not fufficiently pow-
erful, he fled toward Morocco, and the
governors of the principal places profited
by this momentary weaknefs to divide the
empire.

D z CHAR

[ 36 ]

CHAP. IV.

Dynqfty of the Benimerins.

BDALLAH, governor of Fez, of
the race of the Benimerins, was the firft
of that dynafty who poffefled himfelf of
the fove reign authority. Jacob, his bro-
ther, having affembled troops, took the
cities of Rabat and Anafa, and defeated
an army of Moahedins between Fez and
Mequinez ; his fucceffes awed the people,
and fupported the authority of his family
in that part of Africa.

After the death of Abdallah, who, from
governor of Fez, had become the fove-
reign, his fon, ftill young, was his fuccef-
for, under the regency of Ben-Jofeph, his
uncle; who alfo, in his turn, was fove-
reign, his nephew being firft dead.
t

Similar

C 3? ]

Similar revolutions took place at the
fame time in the provinces of Morocco :
that of Tedla, with thofe of the mountains
in its neighbourhood, headed by Maho-
met- Budobus, joined with the king of
Fez, to aid him againft Abdel Cader, of the
race of the Moahedins. Abdel Cader, in-
formed of this treaty, efcaped from Mo-
rocco at the approach of the rebels ; but,
having been overtaken in his flight, he was
murdered at Sugulmefla.

Budobus, now become mailer of thofe
provinces that lay near the capital, thought
proper to renounce the alliance he had
made with Ben-Jofeph, and further de-
clared war againft him, in expectation of
conquering the kingdom of Fez. A quick
termination was put to this war by the
death of Budobus, and the defeat of his
army. Ben-Jofeph not only preferved the
kingdom of Fez but alio conquered that
of Morocco ; and, by this revolution, the
Moahedins were wholly deprived of fo-
vereign power.

D 2 The

C 3* 1

The kingdom of Morocco, by this
change of its monarchs, which long held
the minds of the people in fufpence, loft
the fovereignty of Spain. Thofe who
governed the provinces of Seville, Cor-
dova, Jaen, and others, in the abfence of
the king of Morocco, eredted themfelves
into fovereign princes; and, feconded by
the African troops, that had remained in
Andalufia, were thus enabled to maintain
thofe divifions, and that diverfity of opi^
nions and interefts, which were inceflantly
renewed,

Ben-Jofeph, now mailer of Mauritania,
efrablifhed his authority there the more fo-
lidly by not occupying himfelf with fo^
reign conquefts, or government. The af-
fairs of Spain felt fome relaxation by the
truces wrhich were renewed between Caf-
tile and the Mahometan kings, till the ac-<
ceffion of Don Ferdinand, to the throne of
Caftile. War again broke out in 1240,
with an obftinate zeal, and the Mahome-
tans loft, almoft in an inftant, the kingdoms
of Cordova and Seville, and the greateft
part of Andalufia.

The

C 59 1

The kings of Grenada and Murcia then
called loudly for aflifrance of Ben-Jofeph,
fovereign of Fez and Morocco. Alphonfo
X., the fuccefibr of Ferdinand, fent a
fleet, by way of diverfion, to befiege Sallee
W 1 26 1, and the place was taken, but was
afterward abandoned on the approach of
the king of Fez,

Don Alphonfo being fclely occupied by
his political interests in Europe, the king
of Grenada took advantage of the truce to
make a new alliance with the king of Mo-
rocco, to whom he even offered the fove-
reignty of his ftates with the towns of
Tariffa and Algefira, as a fecurity that he
would perform his promife, and alfo as
places for the debarkment of trie troops.

Thus invited, Ben-Jofeph took fhipping
for Spain in 1275, with his army, poflefied
himfelf of the two above-named places,
committed ravages in the territories of
Andalufia, and then returned into Africa,
He fent his brother, Ottman,lthe next year
with troops, who again brought new
havoc. Ben - Jofeph returned himfelf
D 4 the

[ 4o J

the following campaign, and his army^
united to that of Grenada, gained very de-»
cided advantages over that of the Chrif-
tians. After vanquishing the Caftilian
fleet, Ben-Jofeph raifed the fiege of Alge-
fira in 1278, and rebuilt that town in the
place where it at prefent ftands. This
prince afterward made a truce with Don
Alphonfo, and generoufly granted him aid
againft his fon, Don Sancho, who, with the
confent of the people, had feized on the
fovereign authority.

After the death of Ben-Jofeph he was
fucceeded by his fon Abu-Said, who, like
his father, made feveral expeditions into
Spain ; all of which were unfuccefsful.
Having loft Tarifta, which had been taken
by Don Sancho III., he made fruitlefs ef-
forts to recover that place ; but, perceiving
that his attempts to regain the fovereign ty
of Spain exhaufted his revenues, he re-
nounced them in future, and in 1294 re»-
ftored the town of Algefira to the king of
Grenada. The empire of Morocco was,
during a time, delivered from wars and re-
Volutions. Abu-Said, occupied folely by

the

[ 41 ]

the adminiftration of his African ftates,
reigned in tranquillity to the year 1303.
At his death he was fucceeded by Abu->
Artab-Ben-Said ; but neither did he take
any part whatever in the Mahometan wars
of Spain : his fucceffor, indeed, Jofeph-
Ben- Jacob, in 131 8, appears to have fent
fuccours to the king of Grenada, who ceded
fome places to him, of which his troops
took poffeffion,

After the death of Jofeph-Ben- Jacob,
king of Fez and Morocco, his two fons,
Abul-Haffen and Said, made war on each
other for the fucceffion. Said, having been
vanquifhed, withdrew to the king of Gre-
nada, and his brother, Abul-Haffen, was
proclaimed. The latter took offence at the
alylum given by the king of Grenada to
Said, and fhewed tokens of his refentment ;
on which the king of Grenada determined
to pafs over into Barbary, in 1330, that he
might come to an explanation with this
prince.

This voyage had the mod fortunate fuc-
cefs, for the king of Grenada, after having

removed

I 4* 3

removed all the fufpicions of Abul-Haflen,
obtained from him a confiderable body of
troops, commanded by his fon Abdelme-
lek, who went in 1333? landed at Algefira,
took poffeffion of that place, and was there
acknowledged fovereign. This army,
protected by a fleet, afterward feized on
Gibraltar, which the Spaniards, in vain,
attempted to retake.

The war, which fome years after broke
out between the king of Tremecen and
Abul-Haflen, obliged the latter to recall his
his fon Abdelmelek, with his troops. To
thefe were likewife added a detachment,
fent by the king of Grenada, who had
made a truce with Caftile. This war was
unfortunate to the king of Tremecen,
who, with his kingdom, loft all he pof-
fefied toward Sugulmeffa. The king of
Fez, profiting by his victory, purfued his.
conquefls as far as, Algiers and Tunis,
which he again brought under the fubjec»
tion of the kin^rs of Fez; and Morocco,

Inflated with fuccefs, Abul-Haffen re-
iblved to recommence the Moorifh expe-

ditiona

[ 45 ]

ditlons into Spain, hoping there to recover
the dominion his predeceffors had enjoyed ;
for this purpofe he fent troops, ftores,
arms, and ammunition, under the condudt
of his fon Abdelmelek, Abdelmeiek com-
mitted many ravages on the territories of
Andalufia, but the Chriftians were able to
repulfe his attacks ; and, after feveral cam-
paigns, in which the advantages were
nearly equal, his army wTas attacked and
routed by the Caftilians, Abdelmelek,
having found an opportunity to fly on foot,
perceiving the approach of Chriftians,
counterfeited death, and the latter coming
up gave him two wounds with their lances,
of which he died in reality. The body of
this prince was tranfported into Barbary,
and inhumed at Sheila, near Rabat, where
his tomb is flill to be feen.

The death of Abdelmelek afflicted the
king of Fez fo deeply that he determined
to go and take perfonal vengeance on the
Spaniards. For this purpofe he fitted out
more than two hundred vefiels at Ceuta,
in 1340, which, in defpite of the efforts
of the king of Caftile, being favoured by

circum-

C 44 ]

circumfrances, met no obftacle in the fhort
paffage from the coaft of Africa to the coaft
of Spain. Befide his troops, he took with
him many Moorifh. families, who were
to people forne towns round Malaga. The
Moorifh fleet, being in the bay of Gi-
bralter, was attacked by the fleet of Caf-
tile, but wrhich, being by no means fo
powerful, was totally defeated.

The kings of Fez and Grenada, at the
I of a mighty army, firft laid fiege to
Tariffa ; but the kings of Caftile and
Protugal, with their combined forces,
marched to the relief of that place, and
attacked and defeated the Mahometan
army near Rio-Salado ; which afterward
retreated to Algefira. The king of Fez,
fearing he fhould be there befieged, imme-^
diately embarked for Ceiita.

That he might revenge the Mohometan
defeat at the battle of Rio-Salado, Abul-
Haflen again made great preparations of
troops and ftores to return into Spain.
His fleet, united with that of his allies,
was attacked in port, and he loft about

twelve

[ 45 ]

twelve veffels ; but this check did not pre^
vent the remainder of the fleet from let-
ting fail : this, however, being once more
attacked in the Strait by the combined fleet
of the Chriftians, was entirely defeated ;
the invafion of the Mahometans was thus
prevented, and, notwithstanding every ef-
fort of the king of Fez and Morocco,
Algefira was taken, in March 1344, and a
ten years truce concluded.

The expences which had been incurred by
Abul-Haffen to fupport thefe his attempts
in Spain, and the ill fuccefs that followed,
occasioned his fubje&s to murmur, as is the
cuftcm of nations, that judge only from
appearances. Abdalharaman, one of the
king's fons, feized this moment of difcon-
tent to revolt, and drew over feveral tribes
to his fide. Don Alphonfo, in the mean
time, broke the truce in Spain, where he
attacked the Mahometans. Abul-Haflen,
although he had ftifled the rebellion, found
his own ftates in too critical a fituation to
admit of his going in perfon to affift the
Mahometans of Spain. He fent his fon,
Abu-Ali, thither, with a body Jof troops, to

aid

i 46 ]

aid Gibraltar, which the king of Caftite
befieged in 1349 ; the troops of Morocco^
however, could effect nothing, but were
obliged to repafs the ftrait, a rebellion
having been once more raifed by Abu-
Hennon, another of the fons of Abul-
Haffen. The king was unfortunate in this
civil war, and was obliged to retire into
the province of SugulmefTa, his fon having
feized on his kingdom.

Abu-Hennon was an ambitious prince*
and defirous of eftablifhing his fame with
his fubjecls ; for which purpofe he pre-
pared formidable armaments for the invad-
ing of Spain. His father took advantage
of thefe preparations to attempt recover*
ing his domains, and, aflembling fome
troops round Sugulmeffa* affaulted and
fubjected various cities of the kingdom of
Fez. The projects of Abu-Hennon were
fufpended by this diverfion ; but, having
overcome his father in 1354, near the
mountains of Fez, he remained in peace-
able poffeffion of his ftates, and preferved
his fupremacy over the fmall kingdoms of
the coaft from Tremecen to Tunis. This

prince

I 47 1

prince entered into a negotiation with Peter
the cruel, who had afcended the throne of
Caftile, and who, from political motives*
was difpofed to favour the rebellion of Abu-
Hennon. The latter, at length, in full en-
joyment of peace, embellifhed the city of
Fez with fome edifices, and built a college
there, which ftill bears his name.

Abu-Hennon died in 1409, and his foil,
Abu-Said, was his fucceflbr. Addicted to
pleafure and debauchery, this prince occu-
pied himfelf too little with the care of his
own eftates to think of fuccouring the Ma-
hometans of Spain ; he even neglected to
fortify, or fend aid, to Ceuta, which was
befieged and taken in 1415 by Don John,
king of Portugal ; the neighbouring Moors
united to recover the place, but their at-
tempts were unfuccefsful, as well fronx
their ignorance, in the art of befieging
towns, as from the {kill with which they
were repulfed by Don Henry, fon to the
king of Portugal,

The cities of Spain, which had beea
under the government of Abu-Said> feeing

they

[ 48 ]

they were to expert no affiftance whatever
from him, were reunited fffi!% Mahometan
kingdom of Grenada," Gibraltar alone re~
maining in the poffeflion of the king of
Fez. Hither Abu-Said fent his brother
Said with fome troops, as well to preferve
that place, and to recover others that had
been loft, as to remove Said, whofe valour
and eminent qualities made him remarked
by the people, and who foon or late might
become a dangerous rival*

This expedition was unfuccefsful, the
king of Grenada having befieged Gibralter*
Said, in vain, demanded fuccours from his
brother, who faw, with fecret pleafure*
the difficulties in which -he was involved.
Said notwithstanding defended himfelf
with the utmoft fortitude ; but, having
been conquered, he was taken prifoner to
Grenada, where his brother wifhed he
might be put to death. The king of Gre-
nada, more politic, preferved the life of
this prince, as well out of refpecl to his
birth as in the hope of being able to make
him a party in thofe infurrections which fo
often divided the Moors of Africa.

Future

r 49 i

Future events juftified the forefight of
'the king of Grenada : the Moors of Fez*
"offended at the conduct of their fovereign*
rebelled againft him, and he was ftabbed by
his Vizier i who, at the fame time, affaffi-
nated his children. The kingdom of Fez
fell into thegreateft diforder in confequence
of the death of this prince ; the people
lived fome time totally independant, each
province and each tribe governing itfelf ac-
cording to its will. The king of Grenada
profited by this ftate of anarchy to fend
over Said into Barbary with troops, and
thus to infure his friendfhip and alliance ;
but this Prince had many difficulties to
encounter* having a competitor in Jacob,
one of his brothers, whofe ftandard had
been followed by the principal tribes,
which occafioned open war between thefe
two princes.

The kingdom of Fez, troubled by thefe
civil broils, remained eight years without
a fovereign, when, in 1423, a ion of Abu-
Said appeared, named Abdallah, writh
whom his mother had fled to Tunis. Ab-
*da.llah was received wTith the greater joy

Vol. II; E bccauie

[ 50 ]

becaufe that the people, divided in their
choice of a prince, thought it their duty
to reunite in favour of one whom Provi-
dence feemed miraculoufly to have pre-
ferved, that their calamities might find a
period. The uncles of Abdallah Said and
Jacob approved the nation's choice, and re-
linquifhed the throne.-

Abdallah reigned with juftice for fome
years ; but, at length, he impofed fo many
vexatious- and tyrannical oppreflions, on
his people, that they were incited to revolt,,
In the midft of the civil commotions
which enfued, an inhabitant of Fez, who
was a Sharif, and who bore the name, flew
the king Abdallah, who was the laft of
the family of the Benimerins, and was-
proclaimed in his ftead*.

All the grandees attached to the Dy-
nafty of the Benimerins rofe againft the'
■yfurper, and an obftinate war enfued*
Muley Shaik, one of the generals who was-
at the head of this party, and who com-
manded toward Arzilla, prefented himfelf
before Fez to befiege the city ; but, hav-

t M 3

ing been vanquifhed by the Sharif, he re-
tired into his government. The Sharif
then fent an army into Temferia to fubje£t
that province ; and Muley Shalt, while
the Sharif was thus weakened, made a fe-
cond attempt upon Fez, in which he be-
fieged the Sharif.

Don Alphonfo, of Portugal, defirous of
profiting by the inteftine diffractions of
the empire, appeared before Arzilla with
his fleet, and took it in 1471. Muley
Shaik, being informed of this, departed
from the blockade of Fez to go and iuc-
cour Arzilla, which, as well as Tan-*
giers, he found taken on his arrival. The
Moorifh prince then determined to make a
truce with the king of Portugal, that he
might once more undertake the fiege of
Fez ; and he accordingly obliged the Sha-*
rif to abandon that city.

Muley Shaik, now become mafter of the
Capital and the appending monarchy, was
the firft of the kings of the race called
Merini, the defcendants of a branch of the
Benimerins. The dominion of the Me-
E 2 rini.

[ 5* ]

rail only extended over the kingdom ofFefc,
becaufe, in thefe difcordant times, the pro-
vinces of Morocco, Suz, Sugulmeffa, and
others, were fubjecled to other fovereigns,
who found themfelves capable of main-
taining their independence.

£HAh

[ S3 3

CHAP. V,

Sharif s of the Merhil — troubles that hap*
fened wider their reign.

X HE family of Merini, which is alfo
called Beni-Aotas, was fo lightly efteemed
that it was not able to render its authority
refpectable in the kingdom of Fez. Inde-
pendent of thofe provinces which had
fhaken off obedience, there were cities that
were governed within themfelves, or by
the authority of chiefs which they had
elefted. The Portuguefe, who already had
got footing on the coaft, profiting by the
weaknefs of thefe fmall governments and
their internal divifions, poffefled them-;
felves of various places, and infenfibly ex-
tended their conquefts. Several tribes of
Moors, from animofity, or provoked by the
ambition of their chiefs, rather chofe to
E 3 become

[ 54 ]

become the allies of the Portuguefe, than
to remain dependant on numerous matters,
who reciprocally depofed each other.

The kingdoms of Fez and Morocco con-
tinued in this kind of anarchy till the be-
ginning of the fixteenth century ; and the
race of Merini, whole power was feeble,
reigned only over the city of Fez and the
neighbouring provinces. At this time a
Moor, of the province of Dara, whofe
name was Mahpmet-Ben-Achmet, calling
himfelf a Sharif and defcendant of the
Prophet, perceiving that the contentions
which exifted in the provinces might fa-
vour a revolution ; and knowing, alfo, the
afcendant which religion has over the
minds of the vulgar, thought proper to
employ thefe means to accomplifh his pro-
jects of ambition.

This Sharif fent his three fons, Abdel-
Quiber, Achmet, and Mohamet, in 1508,
on pilgrimage to Mecca, that they might
thereby acquire the greater consideration.
Thefe young men, on their return, affec-
ting all the exterior of religion, were moft

refpeclfully

[ 55 ]

yefpectfully received by the Moors, who
flocked after them in crouds, contefted
who flrft mould touch their garments, and
venerated them as faints, who were come
£q confole them amid their afflictions.

The fuperftition and enthufiafm of the
people raifed their fame fo high that,
when they returned into their province,
the father, without helitation, fent the
Iwo youngefl to Fez to make themfelves
known in that metropolis, famous for its
fcience and religion. The eldeft of thefe
two became the head of the firft college,
and the king confided the education of his
.children to the younger..

When the reputation of thefe Sharifs
was well eftablifhed, their father, wrho
flowly purfiied projecls which had been
deeply laid, engaged them to reprefent to
the king of Fez the calamities which re-
sulted from the divilions among the Moors,
and thofe which were in future to be
dreaded in confequence of their alliance
with the Portnguefe, who, foon or late*
E 4 would

t 56 3

\vould feize on their wealth, and reduce
their perfons to flaveiy.

They artfully infinuated to this prince
how glorious it would be to himfelf, and
how conducive to the profperity of reli-
gion, could he unite all the Mahometans to
fepel, and drive thefe foreigners from the
ftates. This enterprise might be crowned
with fuccefs, according to their flattering
reprefentations, would he permit them to
traverfe the provinces with a drum and
a ftandard, awaken the fpirit of religion
among the people, inftrufi them in their
true interefts, and incite them to rife in
arms againft the Chriftians. Acknow-
ledging this prince as their legitimate fo-
vereign, they requefted he would beftow
on them fo me mark of authority which
might give credit to, and make their mif-
fion refpeclable in the fouthern provinces,
where the Portuguefe were fo powerful.

The king of Fez, who had no authority
in thefe fouthern provinces, and who had
no fufpicion that the intentions of the
Sharifs were inimical to himfelf, granted

their.

I 57 1

fheir requeft, in contradiction to the repre-
sentations made to him by his brother,
Muley Naffer, who, better informed than
he was concerning former revolutions,
affected by the Morabethoon and the Mo-
ahedins, under the veil of religion, pro?
phefied evil from this proje& of the Sharifs,
and forefawin it more of ambition than of
zeal. Neglecting this advice, the king of
Fez granted them a drum, fome foldiers
to protecl them, and royal mandates dif*.
playing the object of their miffion. The
two Sharifs entered the province of Du-
quella, and paffed through the others till
they came to that of Suz, in every place
exciting the enthufiafm of the people
againft the Portuguefe, whofe ambition
they failed not to exaggerate.

Politically confidered, this miffion was
neceffary, fince, on one fide of the coaft, the
Portuguese, in 1 508, were matters of Saffi,
and had made alliance with the moft pow-
erful of the neighbouring tribes, while,
on the other, the Duke of Bragnnza, in
15 1 3, had lately taken Azamora, info-
much that2 from thence to Santa Cruz, the

coaft

[ 58 ]

eoaft for more than a hundred leagues was
in their power toward the fouth, indepen-
dent of the towns of Arzilla, Tangiers,
and Ceuta, which they pofleffed to the
north. In this critical fituation, the em-
pire being enfeebled and divided as it then
■was, they might rnoft eafily have con-
quered the wThole coaft ; all which per-
fectly juftified thofe alarms which the
Sharifs fpread, although their perfonal ino
tives had a very different tendency.

The miffion of the Sharifs had every
effect which might reafonably be expefted,
and, under the pretence of the defence of
religion, a number of tribes, that were
then governed by themfelves, eagerly
joined their ftandard. Money being ne*
cefl'ary to the Sharifs for the maintenance
of thefe armies, the tribes granted thern
the tenth, as ordained by the Koran*
which gave them a femblance of foyereign
power.

The city of Tarudant, which had been
ravaged by the wandering tribes, acknow-
ledged the old Sharif for its chief, and ena-
bled

[ 59 1

bled Lira alfo to maintain fome troops.
Thus aided, Mahomet-Ben-Achmet forti-
fied himfelf in Tarudant, pretending there-
by to free himfelf from the dominion of
the Portuguefe, and impede their incur-
fions. Succoured by the Moors of Suz and
Dara, he was prefently able to make war
on the tribes near Cape Aguer, or Santa-
Cruz, and alfo to enter the provinces of
Hea, Duquella, and Temfena, where the
people, as much moved by his fermons as
terrified by his arms, acknowledged him
their fovereign, under the modeft title of
Prince of Hea.

The. Portuguefe, and Moors of the envi-
rons of Saffi, their allies, made incurfions
at the fame time into the province of Du-
quella, and fpread terror to the very walls
of Morocco : the old Sharif alone oppofed
their progrefs ; but, dying during the time
he wTas warring with them, he left the ac-
complifriment of his projects to the care of
his fons.

Thefe princes, having by their arts ob-
tained the people's veneration, and who

were

[ So ]

were as exa& in paying their tenths as
they were prompt at obedience, gradually
extended their power. They remained
with their forces between Saffi and Mo-
rocco to oppofe the incurfions of the Por-
tuguese, whom, in various actions, they re -
pulfed ; but their advantages were, in fome
fort, balanced by the death of Abdel-
Quiber, the eldeft of the three brothers,
who fell in. battle.

The Sharifs, having formed the defigrt
of feizing on Morocco, made an alliance
with Naffer Bufhentuf, who commanded
in that city, and held the neighbouring
tribes in dependence. This governor,
having made himfelf Sovereign, received
the Sharifs in Morocco, refpe&ing their
piety, and in the hope that he himfelf
might find his advantage in their alliance.
This confidence became fatal to Naffer
Bufhentuf, for his death quickly followed,
which happened on returning from a hunt-
ing party with one of the Sharifs, who
has been accufed of having given him a
poifoned bifcuit. Achmet, the eldeft of
thefe princes, who had remained in Mo-
st rocco.

E « ]

<roc£o, profited fo well by his death;
that, aided by the principal men of the
city, whofe friendship he had gained, he
was proclaimed king.

Muley Achmet, now king of Morocco,
fent information of his eledion to the king
of Fez, and, in gratitude for the fervices he
had received from the latter, affirmed, he
only intended to govern under his autho-
rity, and paying him feudal homage. This
quieted the fears of the king, and gave
Muley Achmet time to eftabliih his
•power.

Morocco and its environs being; thus fub-
je&ed to the Sharifs, they, by artifices,, en-
deavoured to poflefs themfelves of other
provinces, and with fuch adroitnefs did
they foment factions that* when the dif-
ferent parties made war on each other, each,
of them depended on the affiftance of the
Sharifs, mould either need their aid.
Thefe princes, however, who had only
raifed diflentions that they might enfeeble
trie tribes, put their troops in motion, fell
upon them, totally defeated them, plun-
dered

[ 6z ]

dered their Douhars, and returned to Mo-
rocco victorious^ and enriched with fpoils;
Their victories fpread terror among the
people, and the province of Duquella and
its environs were thus fubje&ed.

Become more powerful, the Sharifs now
freed themfelves from that acknowledge-
ment of fuperiority which they had vo-
luntarily paid to the king of Fez, only
fending him fome fmall prefents as they
pleafed, which were lefs to be confidered
as tributes than as tokens of friendship*
The king of Fez complained of their in-
attention, but his death foon after hap-
pened, and his fon, who had been the
dilciple of the Sharif Mohamet, diffem-
bled, and confirmed the ufurpers in their
principalities, on condition of fome fmall
acknowledgement.

* After the death of the king of Fez the
ambition of the Sharifs - increafed with
their power ; they artfully allied them-
felves with the chiefs of tribes in the envi-
rons of that city, that they might fow di-
vifion ; and, not only refufed to fubmit to

the

C 63 ]

the leail homage, but, fent to inform thef
new king, their benefa&or and fovereign,
that, being defcendants of Mahomet,
they had a more inconteilible right than
any perfon whatever to the Mahometan*
throne.

The two brothers at the fame time di-
vided their conquefts ; the eldeft, Muley
Achmet, retained Morocco ; Muley Mo-
hamet took up his refidence at Tarudant,
by which they could mutually fuccour
each other agaiuft the Portuguefe and
their allies, who were mailers of moft of
the weftern coaft, from the cape of Aguer
to the province of Duquella inclufive.

The king of Fez, who had too long
connived at the perfidious conduct of the
Sharifs, refolved, though fomewhat late,
to make them repeat of their ingratitude,
and, with two pieces of cannon, went in
perfon to befiege Morocco. His army,, not-
being fufficiently numerous to in veil the
city, could not prevent Muley Mohamet
from throwing in fuccours, which he
brought from Tarudant, This fame Sha-
rif

E 64 J

fif made a fally, a few days after, ivitli
his troops, and fell on the camp of the
king of Fez with fo much intrepidity that
he forced his army to retreat, leaving the
field of battle covered with the flain.

After this check the king of Fez was
obliged to raife the fiege, as much for want
of fufxicient force as to go and re-efta~
blifh order in his own kingdom, where his
brother* Muley Meffaoot, profiting by his
abfence and ill fortune, had raifed an infur-
redtion. He was followed in his retreat by
the Sharifs, who attacked his rear-guard-,
which they came up with in the province of
Elcura ; after which, paffing into that of
Tedla, and coafting the mountains, they
obliged the peopk, k:bjefis to the king of
*Fez, to pay them contributions*

Having appeafed the revolt, incited by
Muley Meffaoot, the king of Fez, more
than ever enraged ag'ainft the Sharifs,
marched once again to beiiege Morocco*
The Sharifs likewife marched to meet him,
though with an inferior army, and waited
for him on the banks of the river of negroes

t®

E 65 ]

to difpute his paffage. The king of Fez,
arriving at the oppofite fhore, encamped
likewife, and the two armies obferved each
other for fome days ; at length, the king
determined to attempt the paffage ; he di-
vided his army into three corps, gave the
command of the firft to Abu-Abdallah,
king of Grenada, who, having loft his
own kingdom, had taken refuge with
the king of Fez, the fecond to his bro-
ther-in-law, and headed the third him-
felfi

The king of Grenada, having with him
the fon of the king of Fez, pafled firft ;
and, as he proceeded to the middle of the
ford, and his van-guard began to afcend
the banks of the river, where the land
was high, the king of Suz attacked this
van-guard with fo much valour that it
was defeated : the fon of the king of Fez
was killed, as alfo was the king of Gre-
nada. This prince^ who never had ex-
pofed his life in defence of his own king-
dom, loft it on this oecafion in defence of
another ; the confufion among the foldiers
Vol. II. F was

C 66 ]

Was fo great that the van-guard of the
king of Fez, forced back in the river,
overwhelmed thofe who were coming to
their affiftance, and they thus mutually
drowned each other. The king of Fez7
not having yet begun the paffage with his
detachment, feeing the diforder irretriev-
able, retired with fo much hafte that he
abandoned his wives, baggage and artil-
lery, took the road to Tedla, and returned
to Fez.

This victory, which highly influenced
the vulgar opinion, was fo favourable to
the Sharifs, that they were emboldened to
greater undertakings, and determined the
following year to pafs mount Atlas with
numerous forces, where they feized on
the kingdom of Tafilet* On their return
they raifed contributions on the provinces
of Fez, left troops in them, and forced
thofe of the king of Fez to retire. After
this fuccefs, Muley Mohamet left his bro-
ther atMorocco, and returned to Tarudant.
In 1536, this prince came before Agua-
dier, or Santa Cruz', then in the power of
the Portuguefe ; the fiege of this place was
r fomewhat

[ fe ]

fomewhat long, but it was obliged at laft to
capitulate. The power of the Sharifs
was ftill farther extended after this con-
quer!:, becaufe that the Moors, who had
been allies of the Portuguefe, unable longer
to receive aid from them, determined to
pay homage to thefe princes.

This increafe of dominion, which every
where embroils nations, became at length
a fubjefl: of difcord between the Sharifs.
Muley Achmet the eldeft, who poffefled
the kingdom of Morocco, had ceded that
of Suz to his brother Muley Mohamet, on
condition of fome tribute being paid ; but
the latter, whofe valour, and other quali-
ties, had rendered him the moft popular,
felt how eafy it would be for him to rid
himfelf of this dependence ; and, inftead
of remitting his brother the fifth of the
fpoils he had made during the laft cam-
paign, thought proper to fend a fmaller
part. This offended the king of Morocco,
who imagined he had a right- to prefcribe
fuch homage as he pleafed. Muley Mo«»
hamet refufed compliance, and explana-
F 2 tions

I 68 ]

tions enfued between the brothers, which
did but incite new aggravation, and each of
them began to commit hoililities on the
domains of the other till war became al-
moft inevitable.

To prevent the confequent calamities, a
Moor, who was held in veneration, per-
fuaded the two brothers to an interview,
which gave occafion to an irreconcileable
hatred. Muley Achmet treacheroufly en-
deavoured to ftrangle his brother as they
embraced, but the latter, more adroit, ef-
caped the danger ; and, now become open
enemies, they prepared for war.

Muley Achmet immediately fent his
fon, Muley Sidan, with troops into the pro-
vince of Dara, which appertained to the
kingdom of Suz, there to levy contribu-
tions. Muley Mohamet, on his part, op-
pofed thefe hofiilities, and different actions
enfued betweeen the armies of the two
princes, in which fortune generally was in
favour of the king of Morocco. The
lofles of Muley Mohamet did not, how-
ever, difhearten him, but rather ferved far-
ther

C 69 ]

ther to raife his courage. Having affem-
bled the governors of provinces, and the
chiefs of tribes, he rehearfed to them his
brother's acts of injustice, and fo effec-
tually infpired them with a dread of his
tyranny that they all fwore eternal fidelity
to Muley Mohamet. After receiving their
proteftations, the fqvereign gave them af-
furance, holding by his beard in token of
a vow f9 that, if they would be as faithful
as they promifed, he would vanquifh his
brother, and lead him prifoner to Taru-
dant.

The two armies foon took the field,
each endeavouring to profit by every kind
of ftratagem to furprize the other. Hav-
ing, at length, met at the entrance of a val-
ley, that of the king of Suz, which was
upon the height, affaulted the army of the
king of Morocco with fuch impetuoiity
that it was obliged to give ground, and the

* When the Moors hold by their beards, while they
(wear, it gives ilrength to the oath, which, after this for-
mality, they rarely violate.

F 3 cavalry ^

[ 7° ]

cavalry, being fo confined as to be unable
either to form itfelf or a£t, the foldiers
were obliged to alight from their horfes,
that they might efcape with greater facility.

During the rout the king of Morocco,
and his foil Muley Boeza, were made pri-
foners, and conducted to Tarudant ; but
his eldeft fon, Muley Sidan, after col-
lecting the remains of the army, retreated
to Morocco. In this extremity the inhabi-
tants of this city thought the beft means
were to negociate, and, after council held,
Muley Sidan fent his wife to the king of
Suz, his uncle, to effect nn accommodation,
and implore his clemency. The princefs
pleaded fo effectually that Muley Mo-
hamet granted his brother freedom, on con-
dition that they mould divide their con-
quefts. There were many other claufes in
their treaty, but, it was fo little obferved,
that, to recite them, would be fuper-
fluous.

The king of Morocco, once again re-
turned to his ftates, protefted againfl: the
validity of the treaty, affirmed that, it

having

C 7' 1

having been made while he was a prifoner,
it could neither injure his rights nor thofe
of his descendants, who, by their birth,
had a legitimate claim over his domains,
which it was not in his power, by any re-
nunciation, to take from them. After
fuch a proteftation the two brothers,
equally irritated, again made difpofitions
for war, and the king of Suz pafled Mount
Atlas, by hafty marches, to invade the ter-
ritories of Morocco.

The two armies met, feven leagues from
that capital, on the nineteenth of Auguft,
1544; and Muley Mohamet attacked his
brother with fo much valour that he to-
tally defeated his army, and purfued it to
the very gates of Morocco.

Here he fummoned the inhabitants to
deliver up the city, if they would not ex-
pofe themfelves to all the rigours of war ;
and the governor, having received no tid-
ings of his mafter, fuppofing he might
have been taken or (lain, and not daring
to defend the place, reprefented to the in-
F 4 habitants

[ 7* J

habitants that, Suz and Morocco beine
governed by princes of the fame blood, it
Was but juft that he fhould open the gates,
Muley Mohamet, on his entrance, was fa-
luted by the people as their fovereign.

After having vifited the fortrefs, and
placed guards in every part, the prince
entered the palace of his brother, where
all was in confufion ; the treafury was pil-
laging ; the wives and daughters of Muley
Achmet were folely occupied, during the
tumult, to conceal what they pofTefTed
moft precious ; but the prince foon qui-
eted their fears, and took care at the fame
time to fecure the treafury.

Muley Achmet, who had loft himfelf
during the night, arrived wThile thefe
things paffed, with few followers, at the
private gate of the palace, where he
knocked aloud. He was anfwered from
the top of the walls, and advifed to fly, for
that his brother was mafter of the city.
Accordingly this prince retired immedi-
ately to the fandluary of Siqi-Abdallah-
Ben-Ceffi, as to an inviolable alylum,

From

[ 73 1

from this place Muley Sidan and Muley
Boeza went to Fez, to intieat afliftance
from the king, who beheld, with fecret
fatisfaction, the divifious of thofe Sharifs,
whofe perfidy he himfelf had proved, and
therefore promifed aid to the moit feeble,
hoping by this means he ihould be enabled
to deftroy the moll: mighty.

The confecrated perfons appertaining to
the fanctuary where Muley Achmet had
fled for refuge, were bufied in their endea-
vours to procure an interview between the
two brothers, which accordingly, in a few
days, took place. Muley Mohamet, who,
on fimilar occaiions, had made proof of the
ill faith of his brother, took his precau-
tions, and received him in his tent, as well
as his children, with his fabre in his hand ;
thefe faluted their uncle, and proftrated
themfelves before him to embrace his
knees. Muley Achmet approached the
lafr, and his brother went to receive him
at the entrance of his tent, where they
embraced, wept, and remained for fome«
time filent,

Muley

[ 74 ]

Muley Mohamet, at length, reproached
Ills brother concerning the little faith with
which he had obferved the treaty con-
cluded at Tarudant, adding that, to this
his breach of faith, more criminal in kings
than even in other men, he muft attribute
his misfortunes ; that Providence had de-
fpoiled him of his ftates but to revenge
his having broken a promife, pledged ;
that, being his elder brother, he had ever
treated him as his fuperior and fovereign,
and that, ungrateful as his conduct had
been, he fliauld ftill continue fo to do ;
but that, having given his word to the in-
habitants of Morocco not to fufFer him any
more to enter the city, he could not break
it, left he fhould thereby incur fimilar
reproaches ; it therefore appeared moft
proper that he fhould, for a time, retire to
Tafilet with his fons, and there await
a better deftiny ; that they ought to re-
gard the con quells they had already made,
with the aid of the Almighty, as harbin-
gers of ftill greater fuccefs. Muley Ach-
met made fome reply, in his own juftifi-
cation, and, confiding in the generolity of
his brother, took the way to Tafilet.

Muley

[ 75 ]

Muley Mohamet, thus become -matter
of the fouth of the empire, put himfelf
in a condition to make Muley Oatas Me-
rini, king of Fez, repent the kind recep-
tion he had granted his nephews. Seeking
a quarrel with him, he demanded the pro-
vince of Tedla as appertaining to the king-
dom of Morocco, and at the fame time lent
his fecond fon, Muley Abdel Cader, with
troops to levy contributions, and befiege a
cattle, which was in that province. This
cattle, which was well defended, was vi-
goroufly attacked by the young prince,
who yet was unable to take it, the king of
Fez having come to its relief.

Hearing this, Muley Mohamet affembled
all the cavalry of Suz and Morocco,
marched in perfon toward Tedla, and
joined the troops that were under his foil's
command. The army of the king of Fez
was fuperior to that of the king of Mo-
rocco ; but, being compofed, in part, of the
inhabitants of Fez, who were fickle of
temper, not inured to war, but rather ac-
cuftomed to effeminacy and pleafures, this
army was daily weakened by defertion.

Muley

C 76 ]

Muley Mohamet, well acquainted with
the levity of the people of Fez, eluded aCT
tion as long as he thought convenient, till,
at length, determined to give battle, he
harangued his troops, and declared, that,
defiring only to fight with men who were
determined on victory, he gave liberty to
all thofe to retire who felt they wanted
this refolution ; that, perfuaded as he was,
men, bred in the city of Fez, though fu-
perior in numbers, were unable to ftand
before foldiers fo courageous as thofe he
commanded, he intended to give battle,
confiding in their valour, and not doubting
but that the victory would render him the
greateft fovereign of Africa.

Animated by this difcourfe, the foldiers
called aloud to be led to the enemy, and,
on the next morning, the army advanced
in order of battle. This order was in the
form of a crefcent, according to the cuftom
of the Moors ; the two extremities of
which were commanded, the one by Mu-
ley Mcilaoot, the king's fon, and the other
by the Alcade Mumen, fon of a Genoefe
renegado ; the king was in the centre with
2 his

[ 77 ]

his other children, having the Arqnebu-
fiers in his front, and the artillery drawn
by peafants, or carried by mules.

The two armies remained f?xing each
other without beginning the attack ; the
Sharif had commanded that no motion
mould be made till the fignal had been
given ; the heat of the day was exceffive,
and the prince artfully waited till the fun
was on the decline ; and at the moment
when, being behind his army, it fhone in
the face of his enemies, the firing of a
cannon was the fignal of attack, and this
was made with fuch impetuofity, and fuc-
cefs, that the army of the king of Fez
was immediately put to rout. As this
prince was riding to pafs the river of
Derna, and rally his flying forces, his horfe
fell, and he and his fon, Muley Buker, were
made prifoners. All the troops of Fez,
that compofed the main body of the
army, retired in diforder. Muley Buha-
fon, Prince and Lord of Gomera, in the
province of Rif, who commanded a de-
tachment, was the only Moor who fought
eourageouily, and retired in good order.

A de-

I 78 3

A detachment of Turks, commanded by %.
refolute Perfian, intrenched behind a bat-
tery, likewife prevented the vi&orious
Moors from furrounding them. The
Sharif, aftonifhed at the valour of thefe
foreigners, offered to take them into his
fervice on the fame conditions they had
enjoyed under the king of Fez. The Per-
fian general accepted the propofal for him»
felf, and fuch of his detachment as thought
proper to follow him, provided the king
of Morocco would pledge his word for
their fafety. Muley Mohamet fent his
ring by one of his fons, and the Perfian
general entered into his fervice with thofe
of his foldiers who were not married at
Fez ; the reft laid down their arms and re-
treated.

After he had reftored order in the camp,
Muley Mohamet fent for Muley Oatas,
king of Fez, and confoled him in his misfor-
tunes, which, he faid, muft be attributed
to the fins that were openly committed
at Fez without reprehenfion. The king
of Fez, enfeebled as he was by his wounds,
aflumed ftrength enough to reply, that it

was

C 79 ]

was not always in the power of the fove*
reign to extirpate habitual and rooted
vices, and that, be the irregularity in his
adminiflration what it might, it did not
thence refult that he had a right to make
war upon him, and feize upon his ftates,
more efpecially when the benefits were re-
membered which he had received from his
father. An agreement was afterward made
between the Sharif and the king of Fez,
that the latter and his fon mould be re-
ftored to liberty, for which he mould yield
up the city of Mequinez.

The Sharif took the road to Fez to en-
force this agreement, but Muley Buhafon,
who had entered Fez with the remains of
the army, beholding the confufion there
was in the city, while it remained without
a monarch, had Muley Cafiari, a young fon
of the king, proclaimed, on condition that
he mould reftore the crown to his father fo
foon as he fhould recover his liberty.
The king of Morocco mean while came
and encamped, with his army, four leagues
from Fez, whence he difpatched letters from
the king, his prifoner, to his mother and

the

[ so 3

the principal men of the city, that they
fhould put Mequinez into his power ; but
Buhafon, who dire&ed in Fez, occafioned
the anfwer to be delayed, that he might
{hut up the Sharif, between the army of
Fez and another which was railing at
Mequinez. Being informed of this, the
the king of Morocco decamped before the
pafies were feized, taking with him his pri-
foners. •

Muley Mohamet, having gained intelli- *
gence of the diffeniions among the Moors
in the environs of Fez, profited by thefe, in
1548,10 fend troops thither, the command
of which he beftowed on his two elded
fon s, Muley Haram and Muley Abdel Cader,
who committed fome ravages round Al-
caffar and Mequinez. This diverfion, and.
the want of concord throughout the go-
vernment of the north, further (hook the
wavering faith of the towns, and tribes of
the kingdom of Fez, who were half in
commotion, and who were with difficulty
reftrained from rebellion. In this conjunc-
ture the Moors, who were by profeflion
faint j, interfered, as ufual, to pacify the

people ;

[ Si 1

people ; and it was at length agreed that
the city of Mequinez mould be given to
Muley Mohamet, on condition that the
king of Fez fhould be reftored to liberty,
which was accordingly performed ; but
the Sharif exacted a promife from the king,
before his departure, that, whenever he
fhould make the demand, he would alfo
yield him the city of Fez,

The king being come to Fez, his fon
reftored him the government ; but Muley
Mohamet, who would not give him time
to re-eftablifh his authority, appeared
before the metropolis about two months
afterward, of which he demanded the
pofiefiion. The king of Fez anfvvered
that his fon, and the inhabitants, would not
fufFer this, and therefore it was not in his
power to comply* The Sharif was fo en-
raged, by this meffage, that he caufed the
ambaffador who brought it to be beheaded,
and fent a detachment of cavalry to the
very gates of the city to commit hoftiiities ;
but this detachment was beaten, and forced
to retreat.

Vol. II. G Muley

C s^ 3

Wufey Mohamet then repaired to Me-*
quinez, whence he fent for two of his fons
to join him with what troops they could
aflemble in Morocco, and the fouthern pro -
vinces ; after which he marched to* meet
this reinforcement, and encamped near the
river Seboo* The different actions that-
happened between the troops of the king
of Fez, and thofe of the king of Morocco*,
were to the- advantage of the latter, who
marched toward Fez and blockaded the
city. Some fellies were made by the king
of Fez, which made but little impreffion,
while the inhabitants, in want of provi-
fions, went by hundreds to the Sharif, who
received them with open arms, and further
ftraitened his lines to cut off all commu-
nication. After a long fiege, the inhabi-
tants gave up the place to the Sharif,
who, for form fake, beat down a part of
the walls, and entered the city unknown
to the king, who was then in New Fez

The news being brought him, this

prince flew to recover his capital ; the two>

parties fought from ftreet to ftreet with

equal rage, and he would even have reco-

i vered

[ «3 ]

Vered Fez, had not the people, according to
their ufual inconftancy, declared them-
felves for the Sharif, and forced his troops
to retire. Without fubje&s, and without
foldiers, the king rather chofe to fubmit to
the clemency of the conqueror than to
abandon his crown, his wives, and children.
The king of Morocco, however, took pof-
feffion of the city and caftle of Fez, mar-
ried one of the king's daughters, and fent
him and his children to Morocco and Ta-
rudant, where he caufed them to be affafii-
nated. Such was the tragical end of the
houfe of Merini, and fuch the ingratitude
and perfidy it received from thofe Sharifs
which itfelf had raifed, and who, having
ftripped it of its poffeffions, and extermi-
nated its race, loon themielves felt the vi-
i-iffitndes of fortune.

G 2 CHAR

[ 84 ]

C II A P. VI.

^he 'Revolutions of the Sharif.

jTxFTER having feized on the kingdom
of Fez, Muley Mohamet fent his brother,
Muley Achmet, into the defert, with a part
of his family, that he might have nothing
to fear from his ambition. The change of
government in Fez, however, foon railed
troubles in the northern provinces, which
obeyed with repugnance a prince who had
depofed their rightful fovereign. Muley
Mohamet therefore determined to fend
troops into the provinces, as well to make
his authority refpecjed as to keep the fol-
diers occupied, and prevent the effects of
their inconftancy. He fent his three fons,
Muley Haram, Muley Abdel Cader, and
Muley Abdallah, again ft the city of Tre-
mecen, of which they poflefled themfelves
1 without

[ 35 ]

without the leaft refiitance. Haram ad-
vanced toward Oran, but could not con-
quer it ; and, having returned to Fez, he
there fell lick and died. The Algerine
Turks, having heard of the reduction of
Tremecen, marched with an army to effect
its recovery. The king of Morocco fent
three of his fons, with various detach-
ments, to its relief; but the want of con-
cord between thefe brothers, who, born of
different mothers, had little affection for
each other, and acted as if they had op-
pofite interefts, occafioned the lofs of the
place, and of a battle, in which one of them
was killed, and another wounded.

At the fame time, Salah Reis, governor
of Algiers, who had acquired the reputa-
tion of valour, informed by Muley Buha-
fon, prince of Gomera, of the perfidious
conduct of the Sharifs, to the king of Fez,
offered his alliance to dethrone Muley Mo-
hamet. Buhafon accepted the propofal,
and alfo affured him he would allow a
thoufand piftoles, daily, for the mainte-
nance of his troops, and abandon to him
G 3 all

[ 86 ]

all the filver, gold, and jewels, which
might he taken from the Sharif. Salah
Reis accordingly departed, in 1553, with
his artillery, and 4000 men, who were
joined during their progrefs by a multi-
tude of volunteers, that continually in-
creafed.

The Sharif, then engaged in fubjeding
the mountaineers of the environs of Mo-
rocco, having heard of this march, went to
the relief of Fez, and fent all the cavalry
he could collect to encamp in its neigh-
bourhood. Salah Reis, as he advanced to-
ward this city, had an engagement with
Muley Abdallah, fon of the king of Mo-
rocco, who commanded the rear-guard of
his army, in which the young prince loft
the baggage and (lores, which obliged the
Sharif to haften his march and enter Fez.
Salah Reis, a few days after, having en-
camped near the city, the king of Morocco
determined to (ally out, becaufe the inha-
bitants enjoy the privilege of capitulating,
if the enemy approach the city within
half a league,

The

[ «7 1

The king of Morocco, after having held
council, marched to difpute the paflage of
the Seboo with the enemy. His pofitiou
was nearly the lame as it had formerly
been when oppofed to the king of Fez,
with this difference, that Salah Reis was
a more able general, had a more formi-
dable artillery, and better gunners. Salah
Reis, intending to pafs the river, cannon-
aded the army of the Sharif to prevent
its ailing, while his cavalry effected a
paffage ; each horfeman carried an Arque-
bufier behind him, who, as faft as they
gained the more, entrenched themfelves
behind palifadoes, which they brought
with them, while protected by their ca-
valry, whom the Moors were unable to
drive from their pofts. By this fkilful
conduct Salah Reis gained the oppofite
more, encamped, and lay all night under
arms.

The next morning the Sharif difpofed

his army in order of battle. Salah Reis

did the fame ; and, notwit'hftanding the

fuperiority of the Moors, whofe numbers

G 4 were

C 88 ]

were more than five to one, by his good ge~
iieralfhip, taking advantage of his enemy's.
nuftakes, arc' opponng art to ftrength, Sa-
lah Reis obliged Muley Mohamet, whofe
troops began to give ground, to found a
retreat, and retire into New Fez. Salah
Reis and Euhafon then advanced toward
Old Fez, where they found fome refiftance
from one of the ions of the Sharif; but
Buhafon, having advanced with five hun-
dred refolute Turks, bur ft the gates and
entered the city, which was eafily taken,
Muley Abdallah, while he attacked the
one gate, retiring through the other to
join his father in New Fez. Muley Moha-
met, perceiving the enemy mafter of Old
Fez, thought only of flight, bade his wives
carry every thing they had moft precious
with them, and follow him; but he, being
in hafte to fecure himfelf, could not wait
for them, and feveral of them fell into the
conqueror's power. Before he left the
city he opened his treafury, and fufTered it
to be pillaged by his own people, to pre-
vent its falling into the hands of his ene^
mies, whofe booty consequently was
fmall.

After

[ 89 J

After Salah Reis had taken Fez, there
was fome altercation concerning the elec-
tion of a king ; he confented, however,
at length, that Muly Buhafon mould be
proclaimed, according to ftipulation ; and,
having been paid, agreeable to treaty, he
returned to Algiers with his troops, loaded
with plunder. Yet was not Salah Reis
contented with Buhafon ; he therefore in-
formed the king of Morocco of his depar-
ture, and afliired him he would grant his
enemy no farther affiftance, mould he un-
dertake the recovery of Fez. Muley Mo-
hamet, however, who had haftily marched
for Morocco, did not confide in this intel-
ligence, but even wrote to Muley Abdallah,
his fon, to abandon Mequinez, which thus
fell likewiie into the power of the con-
queror.

Muley Achmet, who had abandoned
Tafilet by the order of his brother Muley
Mohamet, and retired to the defert, learn-
ing that he had loft Fez, profited by this
momentary weaknefs to feize upon Tafilet,
in which there were no troops. He fent

informa-

[ 90 ]

information of his intentions to Muley Bil*
hafon, and intreated his aid.

Muley Mohamet diffembled his knowledge
of thefe proceedings 9 till he was well certified
of the return of Salah Reis, and his forces,
to Algiers ; he then aflembled two armies,
at Morocco, the one of which he led toward
Tafilet, and gave the command of the
other to his fon, Muley Abdallah, for the
recovery of Fez. The latter approaching
this city, Muley Buhafon fent his two
fons, Nacer and Mohamet, to oppofe him
with an army ; but the two princes, dif-
united in opinion, did not concert their
operations together. The latter, defirous
of obtaining all the honour of victory, ad-
vanced with his detachment, attacked the
army of Muley Abdallah, was totally de-
feated, and obliged to fly.

Irritated at this defeat, Buhafon aflem-
bled his forces, and marched himfelf to
attack Muley Abdallah, who now, being
himfelf routed, was obliged to return to
Morocco,

Muley

[ 9* 3

Muley Mohamet, who had blockaded
Tafilet, being informed of the defeat of
his fon, carefully fpread a contrary report,
by which the courage of Muley Achmet
was fo funken that he imagined there
was no refource, except in his brother's
clemency ; to intreat which he fent his
fons. By this artifice Muley Mohamet re-
took Tafilet, fent his brother to a faneluary
near Morocco, and detained his two fons,
whom he fhprtly after caufed to be maf-
facred,

He then departed from Tafilet toward
Fez, to make another attempt on that city,
and revenge the defeat of his fon Abdal-
lah. Muley Buhafon marched to meet
and give him battle ; victory was difputed
by both with the greateft obflinacy ; but
Muley Buhafon, having been killed by a
lance, his troops took to flight ; the Sharif
remained mafter of the field, and victori-
oufly re-entered Fez,

In his wrath againft the inhabitants,
whofe fickleneis and cowardice he had
proved, he treated them with the utmofl

[feverity,

[ 9* ]

ieventy , exacted the repayment of his loft
treafury, and an indemnification of his ex-
pences, for the defence and recovery of the
city. In vain did the people remonftrate
on the impoffibility of paying a fum fo ex-
orbitant, efpecialiy after the lofles to which
they had been expofed. They agreed,
however, to pay him the amount of three
millions of livres, or one hundred and twen-
ty-five thoufand pounds, to relieve them-
ielves from perfecution. The king after-
ward feized on the poffeffions of wealthy
individuals, and cut off many that he might
obtain their riches. To avoid witneffing
the hatred of the inhabitants, he made
Morocco his place of refidence, and left
his fon Abdallah at Fez, in quality of Vice-
roy.

Returned to Morocco, Muley Mohamet
brought his brother thither, and put him
under a guard* In 1556. he made difpofi-
tions to fubject the Brebes of the moun-
tains, who had given fign's of commotion,
and left his fon, Muley Abdulmomen, at
Morocco, with Ali-Ben-Buker, as gover-
nor. He palled Mount Atlas with his

army?

[ 93 ]

army, but nothing remarkable happened
during the campaign, except the death of
this king, who was killed by a Turk, that
had entered into his fervice with that ex-
prefs intention. Thus, as he rofe to empire
by treachery, he himfelf perimed by the
hand of a traitor.

After the death of this prince, while
waiting for the arrival of Muley Ab-
dallah, who was at Fez, Ali-Ben-
Buker, governor of Morocco, fearing the
people might .elect Muley Achmet, had
him murdered in his prifon ; and thus
both thefe Sharifs, who had perfidioufly
made religion and good faith a pretext to
defpoil their matters and benefactors of fo-
vereignty, whom, between them, they
caufed to periih, fell themfelves, as did
mofl of their pofterity, by the hands of
murderers, the merited reward of their
crimes*

Muley Abdallah, hearing at Fez of the
death of his father, left the government of
this city to his brother, Muley Abdulmo-
men, and departed, in 1557, for Morocco,

where

E 94 )

where he was joyfully received. Having
affembled the chiefs of the army, and the
principal men of the city, he was pro-*
claimed king of Fez, Morocco, and other
towns and provinces, under the dominion
of the Sharif. In the beginning of his
reign this prince gave tokens of generous
fentiments, by which he acquired the af-
fection of his people ; but it was not long
before he began to a£l the tyrant. Uneafy
at perceiving the popularity of his bro-*
thers, on whom he had beftowed govern-
ments, he determined to recal them, in-
tending to rid himfelf of them and his
fears.

Muley Ottman, who was at Tarudant,
repaired to court, as did his two nephews,
who were governors, the one of Dara, and
the other of Mequinez ; but his brother,
Muley Abdulmomen, excufed himfelf on
a pretext of bufmefs. Muley Abdallah
put the three others to death, and, that he
might varnifh his tyranny, accufed them
of not having fulfilled the duties of their
office, and of failure in their adminiftra-
tion of juflice. This cruel aft rendered

Abdal-

C 95 ]

Abdallah odious to his fubjecls, and infup*
portable to himfelf, which occafioned a fit
of licknefs that almoft brought him to the
grave.

After his recovery, Muley Abdallah once
more feat to his brother, Abdulmomen, to
concert with him a meditated enterprize
againft Mazagan ; but the latter, knowing
what had happened to Ottman and his ae*
phewSj replied, he would be at Morocco as
foon as poffible, and, under the pretext of
departing for this city, having collected
his riches, he took the road to Tremecen,
in 1559, ^at he might pafs thence to
Algiers. He was received with diftinc*
tion at Algiers by Haffen,- fon of Barba-
roffa, Dey of that city ; and, after ac-
quiring reputation by his good conduct
and bravery, Haffen beftowed one of his
daughters on him, and confided to him
the government of Tremecen.

Muley Abdallah heard, with dilplea-
fure, of the reception his brother had met
from the Dey of Algiers, dreading left
their union fhould afFe£t the good in-
telligence

[ 9* I

telligeiice he had held with that regency,
the power of which he had proved; he
confoled himfelf, however, with reflecting
that, being rid thus of his brothers and ne~
phews, he had no competitors now to
dread. The principal governments in his
kingdoms he beftowed on his fons, and, in
1562, determined to lay fiege to Mazagan,
which he had for fome time meditated ; but
his enterprize was unfuccefsful, and he was
conftrained to retreat, after fuffering great
loffes.

Muley Abdulmomen remained in peace-
able enjoyment of his government of
Tremecen, when the fon of Muley Abdal-
lah, then governor of Fez, reiblved to have
him affafiinated. He concerted the means
with one of his faithful fervants, who,
pretending he had quarrelled with his maf*
ter, fled from him, and took refuge at
Tremecen. This Moor acted his part fo
well that Abdulmomen gave him a moil:
gracious reception, and granted him unli-
mited confidence. The favourable mo-
ment being come, the traitor, having made
every preparation for flight, killed the

prince

t 97 1

prince, while at prayers, with his crofs-
bow, and had time to mount his horfe
and return to Fez, where he wras gene-
roufly rewarded by his mafter. Another
kind of reward, however, followed, and
fuch as his crime deferved ; for the inha-
bitants of Morocco, who loved Abdulmo-
men, their former governor, having ac-
cufed the king, Muley Abdallah, of the
murder of this prince, he, to juftify him-
felf, fent to Fez for the guilty Moor,
whom he dragged through the ftreets
without hearing him, that he might nei-
ther betray himfelf nor his fon.

The conduit of Muley Abdallah to-
ward his brothers and nephews difgraced
him the more with his fubjeds, bccaufe.he
had alienated their afFeftions by his mode
of life. He wanted courage, and addidted
himfelf to drunkennefs and pleafures, ye-
gardlefs of all decorum ; he had, never-
thelefs, fome good qualities, employed his
revenues to ufeful purpofes, built palaces,
Qdded colleges to the mofques, and, in
1572, ere&ed the caftle of Cape Aguer,
Vol. II. H - having

L 93 ]

having received information that Don Se»
baftian, king of Portugal, was equipping a
fleet at Lilbon, that he might again poffefs
himfelf of Santa Cruz and its road. Not-
vvithftanding the diflike of his fubjects,
this prince, who had removed his bro-
thers that he might indulge himfelf
more licentioufly in his pleafures, reigned
feventeen years without fuffering any
revolution, and, dying in 1574? left
his eldeft fon, Muley Mohamet, his fuc-
cefibre

Muley Mohamet, furnamed the negro*
becaufe he*was the fon of a negroefs, had
fcarcely afcended the throne before, imi-
tating the inhuman policy of his father,
he difpatched two of his brothers, and im-*
prifoned the third, that he might enjoy his
power in tranquillity. This cruelty ren-
dered him alfo odious to his fubjedts, and
Muley Abdelmeleck, or Moluc, one of his
uncles, profiting by this difpofition, incited
them to revolt,, and dethroned him with-
out difficulty.
1

Muley

[ 99 1

Muley Mohamet, availing himfelf of the
intelligence there was at that time between
the Moors and the Portuguefe, repaired to
Lifbon to fupplicate affiftance from Don
Sebaftian, who was then afiembling an
army to invade Africa. In this army
Muley Mohamet ferved, and convinced the
king of Portugal that his prefence was of
great utility to his projects. The expedi-
tion of Don Sebaftian, however, was uti-
fuccefsful ; he was defeated and {lain in
the plains of Alcaffar, and Muley Moha-
met, who was then in his army, was
drowned in croffing a river. Muley Ab-
delmeleck, who had ufurped the crown,
and was ill before the battle began, expired
in his litter, in the very moment of vic-
tory; and thus do vaft projects vanifh m
an inftant.

Muley Achmet, brother of Abdelme-
leck, after having won the battle, was
proclaimed king of Fez by the army, and
the governors of provinces and cities. His
brothers were obliged by him to fwear fide-
lity to his fon, Muley Shek, and infure to
him the fucceffion. In 1594 this prince
H 2 made

[ IOO ]

made preparations for extending his domi-
nions, when he was informed of the arri-
val of Muley Nacer,, who had long re-
mained in Spain, and who, depending on
promifed aid from Philip II., endeavoured
to incite a revolt in his own favour. Mu-
ley Achmet fent one of his fons with a
body of troops agamft this ufurper, who,
after having been wounded in the battle,
was obliged to abandon his camp and bag-
gage, and renounce his hopes.

Muley x^Lchmet, beloved and refpected
by his people, was the laft defcendant of
the Sharif s, whofe reign was troubled
by no revolution. He died in 1603, and
left his ftates diftracled bv factions, which
greatly increafed the regret felt for his
death.

The hiftory of Spain informs us that
Philip II. maintained a friendly corefpon-
dence with him, and even fent an ambaf-
fador to his court, by whofe intervention
thofe Lords, who had been taken at the
battle of Alcaflar, were recovered from
flavery. Muley Achmet alfo fent the
1 body

[ 101 ]

body of the king, Don Sebaftian, to Phi-
lip. From other Spanifh writers we learn
that Philip II. fent painters to the king of
Morocco, who generoufly rewarded them
for their wrorks *. Hence we may con-
clude that moft of the paintings, to be
found in the palaces of the Moorifh kings,
are probably the performances of Chris-
tians.

After the death of Muley Achmet, Mu-
ley Sidan, the yonngeft of his fons, being
prefent with his father, was proclaimed
fucceflbr ; but this proclamation did not
prevent his three brothers from forming
parties to maintain their claims, and, inlefs
than two months, all the four were alter-
nately matters of the empire. In the dif-
ferent actions occafioned by thefe revolu-
tions, victory always declared for Muley
Sidan : this prince having, at length, fub-
je£led Sallee, which, from its fituation,
gave a balance in favour of its poffeffor

* Viage d*Efpana, de Don Ant. Pons. Tom. I. Lett, IT.

H 3 throughout

[ I02 ]

throughout thefe difputes, remained vie-*
torious over his rivals.

His eldeft brother, Muley Shek, had re-
courfe to the king of Spain, Philip III.,.
to obtain a fupply of money, and, in No-
vember 1 6 10, put into the hands of this
fovereign the city of Laracha, of which he
was poffefled, as a fecurity, both for his
friendfliip and the fum received. This aid,
however, did not prevent Muley Sidan
from ftill remaining fovereign of the em-
pire.

The repofe of the monarch was dis-
turbed by the Brebes, or inhabitants of the
mountains, near Morocco, who obliged
him to quit his capital, that he might free
himfelf from their inroads. Having found
means to divide thefe tribes, and fubject
them either by his arms or his negoti-
ations, he peacefully paffed the remainder
of his reign, and died at Morocco in 1630,
leaving princes, as his fucceffors, who were
little qualified to govern. It appears that,
in 1622, this fovereign received an ambaf-
fador from Holland., who was accompanied

by

[ 103 ]

by Golius, the difciple of Erpenius, and
profeffor of the Arabic language. Muley
Sidan was aftonifhed at the learning of Go-
lius, who wrote Arabic perfectly, but who
could not fpeak it with facility *.

Muley Abdelmeleck, eldeft fon of
Muley Sidan, fucceeded his father, and
was the firft king of Morocco, who, be-
holding leveral fmall kingdoms united un-
der his government, aflumed the title of
Emperor. At the commencement of his
reign this prince affected to be religions,
but, afterward, yielding to his character, he
rendered himfelf fo hateful to the people,
by his drunken nefs, cruelty, and a multi-
tude of other vices, that the citizens of
Fez called his brother, Muley Achmet, to
the throne. The latter, having manifested
fimilar propeniities, was not lefs difagree^
able to his fubjects, who perceived they
were not bettered by the change.

The public difcontent incited new fac-
tions, and Muley El-Valid and Muley

* Bayle Die. Hift. & Crit. mot Goliu?.

H 4 Semea

I I04 J

Semen both difputed for empire with their
brother. But, neither of them infpiring
fufficient confidence to raife up a powerful
party, they were obliged to defift from
their enterprize. After reigning four
years, Muley Abdelmeleck, in 1635, was
affaffinated in his tent by a difcontented
flave, who, finding him in a frate of intoxi-
cation, mot him with a piftol.

Muley Abdelmeleck being dead, Muley
El- Valid, his brother, afcended the throne;
this came the more unexpectedly becaufe
he had been imprifoned by order of his
deceafed brother, whofe intention it was
to have put out his eyes as a punifhment for
the rebellion he had raifed. Such are the
fports of fortune. The reign of this
prince was diftinguifhed by his mildnefs
and affability, which obtained him the
efteem and affe&ion of his fubjefts, reftlefs
as they had been when fuffering under the
cruelty of his predeceffors. El- Valid
likewife gave proofs of a generous and
great mind, by pardoning and releafing
ftate prifoners, and by augmenting the pay
of his troops.

His

[ io5 ]

His reign, however, was troubled by an
in furred ion, which his brother Semen, a
reftlefs and ambitious man, had incited,
and which was promoted by an Alcaid,
whom Muley El- Valid had releafed from
prifon. The fedition, however, was foon
quelled by the defeat of the troops of
Semen, who, together with the Alcaid, was
taken ; the latter was beheaded in reward
for his ingratitude, and Muley Semen
ftr angled ; a rigorous judgment for Muley
El- Valid, who, in the beginning of his
reign, had fhewn fo much humanity and
clemency. This feverity, perhaps, contri-
buted to over awe the turbulent, for his
reign was no more troubled by rebellion,
and he died a natural death, in 1647, after
having reigned twelve years. M. S anion,
ambaflador from France, who had met fo
many obftacles under the reign of Muley
Abdelmeleck, obtained from Muley El-
Valid the ranlom of various Frenchmen,
who had been held in captivity in the ftates
of Morocco.

Muley Achmet Shek, the laft of the
fons of Muley Sidan, was elected Em-
peror,

[ M ]

peror, after the death of his brother, Muley
El- Valid. An enemy to labour, addicted
to pleafures, and ever immured with his
wives, this prince wholly neglected the go*
vernrnent of his kingdom, commiting it to
the care of covetous minifters, who abufed
their influence and authority.

The indolence and effeminacy in which
this monarch lived, and the oppreffions of
the governors of provinces, and cities, ex-
cited murmurs among the people, and, at
length, univerfal difcontent. The moun-
taineers, more reftlefs and more refolnte
than his other fubjects, confulting their fe-
rocity only, and profiting by the weak ftate
of the empire, befieged and took Morocco.
After fubjecling the inhabitants to all the
calamities of war, they put Muley Achmet
to death, and proclaimed one of their
chiefs, named Crom-El-Hadgy ; who had
no right of birth to the crown, and who
reigned fome years without the love of
his people.

This prince inhumanly mafiacred all the
defendants of the Sharifs, who might

any

[ 107 ]

any way have difturbed his reign, and, by
his cruelty, revenged the blood and the
rights of the houfe of Merini, whole
monarchs thefe fame Sharifs had defrroyed,
after having ftripped them of wealth and
ibvereignty.

Raifed to the throne by a faSious' mul-
titude, Crom-El-Hadgy was ever con-
fidered as a ufurper. Having never been
proclaimed by the people, his power was
limited to the metropolis, and extended not
to the remainder of the empire. His fur-
name of Hadgy, which leads us to fup-
pofe he had been at Mecca, was, perhaps,
the only circumftance that produced his
election, becaufe of the veneration in
which the Moors hold thofe who have per-
formed this pilgrimage, Crowned by the
caprice of fortune, this fovereign, having
no ideas of government, defpifed the
Moors fo much that he confided all his
authority to a Jew, as alfo the collecting
of his revenues. This Jew, that he might
avenge thofe humiliations his nation fo
often had fuffered, fometimes abufed his
power ; his will was law, and, without

his

C 108 ]

his confent, nothing could be tranfa&ech
The conduct of Crom-El-Hadgy, and his
mifplaced confidence, fo often live to the
prejudices of the Mahometans, made him
the contempt of his fubjecls ; and, after
having reigned about feven years, his end
was tragical.

Having fallen in love with the daughter
of Muley Labes, whofe brother he had
murdered, he determined to make her his
wife, notwithstanding the fecret averlion
in which (he held him ; and this princefs,
like another Judith, facrificed him to the
public hatred, and her own refentment.
After confenting to efpoufe him, fhe gave
him wine to drink on the bridal day, in
which was a foporific infufion, took this
occalion to poniard him, and avenged, by
the murder, the blood of her family,
which had ftained the throne of the
ufurper.

It appears probable that this princefs
had a paffion for Muley Shek, the foil of
Crom-El-Hadgy, fince fhe fent him intel-
ligence of his father's death, and after-
ward

ward married him, which, at leaft, highly
diminifhecT a Iicr pretentions to generofity,
or noblencrs of mind. Muley Shek did
not long enjoy royalty, to which he had
not the leaft claim ; he was dethroned by
a new revolution, that placed the reign-
ing family on the throne of Morocco, as we
fhall fee in the following book*

BOOK.

1 1 1

BOOK IV.

Sharifs of the reigning family to the acceffion of
Sidy Mahomet — Reign of Muley Sharif, the
founder of this Dynafty — Reign of Muley Ma-
homet— Reign of Muley Arfhid — Reign of Mu-
ley Ifhmael — Reign of Muley Achmet Daiby -—
Reign of Muley Abdallah.

CHAP. I.

Muley All brought from Mecca ; held in
veneration, and called \ by dijlmdlion, Muley
Sharif. Reigns peaceably.

w

HEN we attentively confider the
prefent fituation of Africa, and all the
changes that have happened on its northern
boundaries for a fucceflion of ages, we are
led to imagine it was deftined by Providence
ever to remain the theatre of great revo-
lutions ; and thole which have ravaged the
empire of Morocco, fince the introduction
of Mahometan ifm, feem to have been ftill

more fermented by this religion

Aftei

C »)» 1

After the Arabs had fubdued the nor-
thern coaft of Africa, we beheld Edris, the
defcendant of Mahomet, fly from Medina
to its weftern boundaries, as to the further
end of the world, to efcape tyranny and
perfecution. The Moors, who inhabited
the mountains where he fixed his abode,
edified by his virtues, eagerly embraced his
religion ; and, refpefting his birth, they
flill further claimed him as their fovereign.
By fome inexplicable contradiction, Edris,
a humane and juft prince, the enemy of
wars and devastations, became the founder
of an empire ever in commotion ; and
the firft acts of a ruftic, reftlefs, and fe-
rocious people, were homages paid to
virtue.

Mahometanifm, which, by the nature of
its cuftoms and inftitutions, muft ever be
moil fuccefsful in hot climates, made fuch
a rapid progrefs, in Africa, that it there in-
variably ftamped the character of defpo-
tifm, which was the bafis on which it firft
rofe, and which, prodigally beftowing on
the fovereign unbounded authority, infpires
only fear and defpondency in the fubjedt.

The

t "3 1

The Moors, more fufceptible of fanatl*
cifm than any other people, becaufe they
are more ignorant, and becaufe the heat of
the climate more fuddenly inflames their
imagination, prefently faw thofe different
fects fprout up, that pride and fuperfti-
tion have multiplied, and that, fome-
times under the veil of exceffive aufterity,
at others affuming the malk of indulgence
and reformation, feduce the mind, over
which they alternately domineer. Then
is religion the cloak of ambitious conque-
rors, who impofe upon an ever fickle, tur-
bulent, ignorant, and fanatical multitude.
Thus has the northern part of Africa, the
prey of credulity, oppreffion, and defpo-
tifm, fucceffively groaned under an army
of ufurpers, and changed the mafter almoft
with the moment.

The Empire of Morocco, which, in the
thirteenth century, under Jacob Almonfor,
had acquired an extent of power fcarcely
credible, loft this power with equal rapi-
dity, becaufe that thofe paffions, which ac-
tuate kings, and raife infurreclions among

Vol. II. I the

[ n4 ]

the people, neceflarily bring on the fall of
empires, that only profper under the
protection of certain and fixed laws, and
want bafis and fupport where the govern-
ment-is arbitrary.

Having taken a retrofpect of this em-
pire, overturned by a fucceffion of crimes,
originating in the ambition of ufurpers and
the reftleffnefs of the people, we mall
now fee it, under the reigning houfe, ac-
quire a kind of confiftency by the aid of
devaluation and ferocity, which ftill are
much more proper to overthrow than to
raife up empires ; yet have not thefe vio-
lent concuffions fhaken the throne of Mo-
rocco ; nay, its foundation feems to have
been further fecured, in proportion as it
has been cemented by blood. Equally the
inftruments and the victims of tyranny,
ever divided by prejudice and hatred, the
Moors know not how to make one flep to-
ward liberty. Confirmed in their belief of
irrevocable fate, which impofes upon and:
over-awes their minds, they only behold,
in the will and caprice of a never- fatisfied
defpot, the eternal decrees of that Divinity
I whofe

£ »s 3

whole image and oracle he is fuppofecL
Thus, by prejudice confecrated to flavery,
thefe people never can change their con-
dition, whatever may be the example of
revolution j the progrefs of reafon, or the
power of time* Reafon, indeed, can make
no progrefs in an arbitrary and ever abfo-
lute government > where tyranny and vio-»
lence prefent inceffant barriers. Their go-
vernment refembles the brambles of their
deferts, which ftifle, in their firft growth,
thofe genial plants that only flourifh by
care and culture.

After the extinction of the family of the
Sharifs, who had dethroned the houfe of
Merini, and who afterward fell themfelves
the victims of their own ambition and
perfidy, there were feveral years of dearth
at Tafilet, and thefe countries underwent
all the horrors of famine. The Moors of
that province, who then made a pilgrimage
to Mecca, brought back a Sharif, named
Muley Ali, a defcendant of ^ Mahomet,
born at the town of Yambo, near Medina^
whom the people treated with the utmoft
I 2 refpect

[ "6 ]

refpedh According to Moorifh tradition*
the palm trees bore no fruit before the ar-
rival of the Sharif. Seaibns having re-
turned to their former courfe, the bar veil: s
became fo abundant that the Ample and
fuperftitious people of the country attri-
buted a change fo miraculous to the pre-
fence and religion of the Sharif. All the
Moors of the Morocco ftates, difcouraged
as they had been by the devaluations which
had afflifted the empire, and wondering
at fo happy a return of plenty, eafily be-
lieved Providence had fent them Muley
All, to bring their calamities to a period,
and this prince, on whom they had be-
llowed the name of Muley Sharif, as a
title of diftin£tion, was proclaimed king
of Tafilet. The remaining provinces of
the empire proclaimed him alio, except
Morocco, and its environs, which were
then in the power of Crom-El-Hadgy.

The laft of the fons of Muley Sidan

having been deftroyed by that ufurper, the

princes of the ancient families, who had

governed the empire, were all extinct.

I Muley

[ "7 ]

Muley Sharif, therefore, king of Tafilet,
was, by the rights of birth, of religion,
and the public wifh, the legitimate fove-
reign.

The Dynafty acquired the furname of
Fileli, derived from Tafilet, from this
prince, whofe pofterity was fo numerous
that he is faid to have had eighty- four fons,
and a ftill greater number of daughters ;
thole of his male children, who have been
mod known to hiftory, are Muley Mo-
hamet, Muley -Quiber, Muley-Haran, Mu-
ley-Meheres, Muley-Armid, and Muley-
Ifhmael-Semein. The firft and the two
laft have reigned in fucceffion ; the latter,
fons of aNegroefs, diftinguifhed their reign
by fome warlike actions, but much more
by a continuation of tyranny and cruelty
that degrade humanity.

The veneration in which the people
held Mulev Sharif was the moft certain
pledge of their fidelity, and he had no need
of the aid of armies to make his power
refpecled ; he therefore remained at Ta-
I 3 filet,"

[ ,i8 ]

filet, without fliewing himfelf throughout
his empire ; and the provinces, exhausted
by the divifions with which they had been
fcourged during the preceding reigns,
were governed with equity, by thofe rulers
to whom they were affigned by the mo-
narch.

We perceive, notwithstanding, that moil
of the Shaiks of4 the tribes, diftributed
among the mountains, filently profited by
the troubles which divided the empire,
the advantages of lituation, the propen-?
fity of the People, the diftance of the
Cour!"5 and the indolence of the Emperor,
to extend their own authority. This au-
thority would, at length, have become ac-*
knowledged, and hereditary in their fa-
milies, had not the ambition and barba-
rous policy of. Muley Armid flopped its
progrefs.

Muley Sharif reigned fome years, undif-
turbed by the wavering temper of his fub-
jefts, to make whom happy he had dedi-
cated his life. His death was highly re-
gretted,

[ "9 3

gretted, and Muley Mohamet, his eldeft
fon, who gave hopes of virtues equal to
his father's, afcended the throne, and was
unanimoufly proclaimed.

I 4 CHAR

[ no ]

CHAP. II,

Acceffion of Muley Mohamet. Rebellions
and Jiratagems of Muley Arfhid.

JVlULEY Mohamet peaceably reigned at
Tafilet, after his father's example, when a
rebellion was raifed by his brother Muley
Arfhid. This prince, intelligent, but am-
bitious and bloody, knowing the incon-
ftancy of the Moors, projected a divifion
of the empire, and again expofed it to re-
volutions limilar to thofe by which it had
been fo long diftrafted. Retiring toward
Dara, he prefently found himfelf at the
head of a numerous party ; but Muley
Mohamet expeditioufly followed him with
a body of cavalry, feized and threw him
into prifon, and infli&ed exemplary puniih-
ment on the rebels.

Muley

[ 121 |

Muley Arfhid having efcaped, and been
retaken, he was guarded with greater pre-
caution ; but, by the* aid of a negro (lave,
appropriated to ferve him, and who alone
had the liberty of feeing him, he effected a
breach through the tower, in which he
was fluit up, and, during night, was deli-
vered from his dungeon. The faithful
flave, after procuring liberty for his mat-
ter, and having prepared horfes for flight,
while {looping to put on the fpurs of
Muley Arfhid, was cloven down by the
inhuman monfter who thought only of his
own fafety.

This black ingratitude, the reward of
the labours and fidelity of a flave, was alfo
the fignal of new calamities, by which
the empire was afflicted. Muley Arfhid
haftily fled to the mountains of Shavoya,
eaft of Temfena, and, without diicovering
himfelf, went and offered his fervices to
Sidi-Mahomet Ben-Buker, who there was
abfolute, and held in veneration for his
holinefs. Arfhid, differnbling his birch
and projects, lerved as a common ioloier,

and

[ I22 ]

•and gained his mailer's confidence by his
zeal and fidelity.

Some Moors of Tafilet having difco-
vered this prince in the market, the fons
of Ben-Buker took offence, and Muley
Arfhid thought proper to fly, went to Qui-
viana, in the mountains of Rif, and of*
fered his fervices to Ali-Soliman, This
prince, who reigned as fovereign, remark-
ing his abilities, foon confided to him
the adminiftration of his domains. Arfliid
behaved with fo much art, and diffimula-
tion, that he obtained the unlimited confi-
dence, both of prince and people. Going
tovifit the {rates dependent on Ali-Soli-
man, Arfhid, under the pretence of reftor-
ing order, raifed contributions there, took
poffeffion of fome caftles, cut off the go-
vernors, whom he accufed of malverfation,
and diftributed the wealth he had acquired
among his foldiers.

He next proceeded into a diftrift, called
the mountain of the Jew, becaufe a Jew
governed there, and becaufe the Brebes,
whom he had fubje&cd to his laws, re-

fpeded

[ I23 1

fpe&ed him as their fove reign. After
fpreading terror through the country, he
rnafiacred the Jew as unworthy of com-
manding Mahometans, feized on his wealth,
;and rewarded his troops,

Muley Arfhid, having gained the confi-
dence of his foldiers, whofe numbers were
augmented by his courage, generofity, and
ambition, he declared to them whom he
wras, no longer concealed the plan he had
formed, but promifed to fubdue the coun-*
try, and give it a new Lord, if they would
fecond his endeavours, and partake his for-
tune and fate. The propofition was ac-
cepted by all the chiefs of the mountains,
who, induced by his valour and generofity,
fwore fidelity, and acknowledged him their
rnafter.

The Shaik, Ali-Soliman, informed of
the perfidious conduct of Arfhid, marched
to give him battle, before his party was
further ftrengthened. The daring Arfhid
waited his approach, and fo artfully fpread
the rumour of his liberality that moil: of
the foldiers of the Shaik abandoned him,

and

C W4 ]

and deferted to Muley Arfhid. Solimari
was himfelf delivered up to this prince,
who brought him prifoner to Quiviana,
that he might get poffeffion of his trea-
fures, menacing him with death if he did
not difcover them with the utmoft exacti-
tude. Abandoned by his troops, and be-
holding himfelf in the power of a perfi-
dious and furious man, Ali-Soliman did
not hefitate to give up all his concealed
riches; but Muley Arfhid, regardlefs of
his promife, put him to death, thus to
confirm his own authority.

The conqueror then called his foldiers,
and faid to them : " However precious
" thefe metals may be, a prince, who
" buries them in the earth, deferves not to
** reign. Come, my friends, and divide
" with me what you have merited by
" your activity and affection." The gold
he kept, that it might be of after fervice ;
but he gave all the filver to the officers,
that they might diftribute it among the
foldiers.

The

[ **j ]

The fame of Muley Arfhid was extended
by this conduit, and was an irrefiftible re-
commendation among the Moorifli tribes.
Covetous, poor, and rendered vile by op-
preffion, they forgot the perfidy of a trai-
tor, who had robbed his benefactor of do-
minion, and afterward of life, remem-
bering thofe proofs of generofity by which
their avarice was provoked. Muley Mo-
hamet, king of Tafilet, alarmed at this
propenfity of the people, in his brother's
favour, endeavoured to flop his progrefs,
and marched with an intent to meet and
give him battle. Their armies approached
each other among the mountains ; and
that of Muley Mohamet, twice thrown in
diforder, was at laft obliged to fly. Muley
Arfhid continued the purfuit as far as Tab-
let, where Muley Mohamet had fhut him-
felf up, and to which place the former laid
liege. The king, intimidated by his bro-
ther's courage, and (till more by his fero-
-city, fell ill, and died, a few days after, in
1664.

CHAP.

[ "6 ]

CHAP. III.

Reign of Mulcy ArJIrid ; his politic libera-
lity ; conquejls ; barbarities and accidental
death.

HE city of Tartlet was fooii taken,
after the death of Muley Mohamet ; the
face of the whole empire was changed, and
Muley Arfhid made the neceffary difpofi-
tions to maintain his fovereignty. He en-
tered the province of Rif, which he pofTerTed
himfelf of, as like wife of the city of Teza*
where he paffed the winter* In the fpring
of 1665 he marched for Fez, which city,
having taken by furprize, and fending for
the governor, after having obliged him by
torments to declare where his wealth was
concealed, put him to death* He at-
tempted the fame practice with the go*
vernor of New Fez, who, acquainted with

his

[ **7 3

his perfidy, chofe rather to expire in tor-
ments than to difcover where his treafures
were concealed, haughtily telling him, he
hoped they would become the inftruments
of deftru&ion to him, and all his pofte-
ritv.

it

All the Shaiks of the neighbouring dif-
tri&s, and the governors of cities, whot
during the relaxation of government, had
ere&ed themfelves into petty fovereigns,
terrified by the rapid and bloody progress
of Muley Arfhid, haftened to render him
homage, and offer him prefents. The Ai-
caid Looeti, one of the number, had a
beautiful daughter, tohpm Muley Arihid
efpoufed ; and the power Yhe obtained over
him gave her father, alfo, an afcendency
over this prince, by which JLooeti mode-
rated the feverity of his decrees,

Defiring to fubdue the province of £i*
Garb, which extends along the weftera
coaft, from the mouth of the Strait to Ma-
mora, the king, before he departed, fcnt
for the richeft tradefmen of Fez, and com-
manded each of them to build a houfe m

th*

C 1*8 I

the new city, in which to lodge his foldiers
at his return.

His army now amounted to forty thou-
fand men, and he fubdued the people who
inhabited the eaftern part of the province
he had undertaken to conquer. The Al-
caid Gailand, a courageous man, who go-
verned in this country, made fruitlefs ef-
forts to oppofe the victor ; abandoned by
his forces, he was conftrained to take re-
fuge in Arzilla, whence he fled by fea to
Algiers, that he might efcape the wild fury
of this prince. The conqueft of El-Garb
induced the inhabitants of Sallee to make
their fubmiffion ; and, from this city, Mu-
ley Arfhid fent prefents to thofe Shaiks, of
the Shavoya mountains, by whom he was
known, that he might there obtain new
allies, infomuch that, in two campaigns,
Muley Arfhid was mafter of all the north
of the empire. He foon departed for the
mountains of Shavoya, fubduing on his
route the Shaiks of different tribes, and
feizing on their riches, which he divided
among his foldiers. He next invaded the
territories of Ben-Buker, under whom he

had

C I29 1

had ferved as a common foldier, and who
waited for him with an army of moun-
taineers, intending to give him battle; but
this Shaik, abandoned by his troops, was
delivered up to Muley Arihid, who pof-
feffed himfelf of his treafures, and put him
to death.

After thus having crufhed thefe fmall
rifmg principalities, Muley Arihid paffed
the winter among the mountains, where
he reinforced his army by a number of
volunteers ; he then began to march to-
ward Morocco, in 1667, intending to de-
throne Crom-El-Hadgy, who, about this
time, had been poniarded by his wife, and
had left his fon, Muley Shaik, the heir of
his ufurped domains. The latter, intoxi-
cated by his plealures, troubled himfelf
little concerning Muley Arihid, and did
not think of defence till the conqueror was
at the gates of his city ; he then fallied
out with fome troops, little inured and
ill difpofed to war, and that, far from
fighting in his defence, were each more eager
than the other to defert to Muley Arihid,
and acknowledge him their fovereign.

Vol. II. K Thus

[ >3° 1
Thus abandoned by his troops, Muley
Shaik endeavoured to fly into the neigh-
bouring mountains, but was taken and
brought to Muley Arfhid, who^ had him
dragged into the city on the fortieth day
of his reign, tied to the tail of a mule.
The city of Morocco was glad to fubmit
itfelf to Muley Arfhid, having for fome
time been under the government of usur-
pers, without name, birth, or abilities ; they
even requefted the body of Crom-El-
Hadgy might be taken from the fepulchre
of their kings, which was granted ; and
this corpfe, with that of the Jew, who
had commanded under him, and all his
family, then living, were burnt, to ftrike
terror into the Jewifli nation, and teach it
no more to interfere in the principal admi-
niftration of government.

No fooner was Muley Arfhid mafter of
Morocco, than this monarch, whom I {hall
hereafter call Emperor, his predeceffors
having avTumed that title, received homage
in the metropolis from all the neighbour-
ing tribes. He afterward departed for the
eaftern fide of Mount Atlas, the frontiers
I of

[ '3' 3

of Tafilet, to fubjugate the inhabitants of
that country. Terrified by the rapid fuo
cefs of his arms, thefe tribes eagerly haf-
tened to pay him lubmiffion. He next
marched toward Tarudant, where the peo-
ple were equally ready to implore his cle-
mency, and fwear fidelity.

Mafter of all the provinces of the em*
pire, this monarch now returned to Mo-
rocco, where he made preparations for two
new expeditions. The firft of thefe, in-
tended againft Fez, he was himfelf to com-
mand, and the other to be fent againft the
Shabanets, or Chabanets, who inhabited
various vallies near Mount Atlas, his ne-
phew, Muley Achmet, was to conduit.

It would be difficult at prefent to afcer-
tain the origin of this tribe. From the
moft ancient accounts, it appears they
were the pofterity of more than forty
thoufand ilaves, male and female, who,
during the reign of Jacob Almonfor, and
before his time, had been tranfported from
Spain to Africa, who had built the extenfive
K z walls

[ ^ ]

walls of Rabat, and had been employed in
"various works. To recompence the la-
bour and fidelity of thefe flaves, Jacob Al-
monfor determined to grant them their
liberty. The principal people of his court
remonftrated concerning the danger there
would be in fetting free fo great, a number
of foreigners, who, having made a con-
xjueil of part of the country, might eaiily
return, and vanquifh the whole.

Jacob Almonfor had pledged his word
for their freedom, and was determined to
keep it ; he therefore offered them the
choice of the province they moft would
prefer for their abode ; and this choice fell
en a diftricT: among the mountains, which
the Brebes were obliged to abandon. This
emigration took place during the moon
called Shaban ; and, according to Moorifh
tradition, the people were for that reafon
called Shahanets.

For fome generations the defcendatits of

thefe flaveS profelied the Chriftian reli-
gion, which they gradually changed for
Iflamifjrn, having no place of public wor-

fliip,

[ l33 ]

fhip, and becaufe that moil of the men
married Mahometan wives. This caft
long preferved the. reputation of valour*
but, confounded with the neighbouring
tribes, it has forgotten all remembrance of
its origin, which, indeed, would be but a
poor recommendation among the Moors,
who are much more proud than is ima-
gined of the antiquity and purity of their
defcent.

Muley Armid, arriving at Fez in the
fpring with four thoufand horfe, fum-
moned, on his arrival, the tradefmen,
whom he had commanded to build houfes,
or barracks, for his foldiers. This order
they had neglecting to execute, truiting to
the incertitude of human events, and not
fo fuddenly expecting the return of their
tyrant. He, enraged, commanded them to
be tied to orange trees, and began to maf-
facre them himfelf with his fabre, when
the Alcaid Looeti, his father-in-law, in-
terceded in their behalf, obtained their
pardon, and prevailed on the Emperor to
be fatisfied with a fine of thirty quintals
K 3 of

[ '34 ]

of filv.er, cr upward of eight thoufand;
pounds.

The widows of the tradefmen, who,
had been killed, refufing to pay a part of
this contribution, Muley Arfhid obliged
them by torture, himfelf prefiding, a fpec-
tator of their torments * ; he would even
have had them drowned in the river, after
having received their money, had not the
Alcaid Looeti obtained a revocation of this
order. What are kings, if monfters fo
execrable are worthy of the title !

During the time that Muley Arfhid was
thus employed at Fez, Muley Achmet, his
nephew, marched to fubjedt the Shabanets,
who, at flrft, obtained fome trifling vic-
tories ; but the prince, having, at length,
been entirely fuccefsful, he compelled
them to render homage to Muley Arfhid.

* He had the detefhble barbarity to put the breafh of
thefe women between the lid of a coffer, and to get upon
It himfelf, to oblige them to give up their money.

No

C *35 1

No iboner did the Emperor hear of the
refinance thefe mountaineers made to his
troops, than he departed from Fez to en-
counter them himfelf ; and, although he
learnt on his arrival at Morocco that they
where fubjugated, he determined to pro-
ceed. To prove that he applauded their
valour, he offered to entertain and treat
thole among; them well who would ferve
in his armies. This tribe, abounding with
valiant men, beheld, with pleafure, the ar-
rival of Muley Arfhid, whofe warlike deeds
they refpecled : the chiefs among them
again paid homage to him perfonally, and
a body of fix • thoufand men followed his
fortunes.

Inflated with profperity, and projecting
the conqueft of Africa, Muley Arfhid en-
tered with his army into the province of
Hea ; the inhabitants of which, animated
by the firft efforts of the Shabanets, had
reiblved to difpute his paffage. Difcou-
raged, however, by the defeat ^and fubmil-
fion of thefe mountaineers, they went to
meet him with rich pre tents, and brought
K 4 him

[ *3* J

him their young virgins, as vaflals bring up
to their lord their firft fruits.

Muley Arfhid received the deputation
favourably, and, without abufing his
power, fent the maidens back to their pa-
rents with prefents.

He then marched toward the Cape of
Aguer, or Santa Cruz, where the inhabi-
tants, diiperfed among the mountains, de-
termined to take up arms. The Emperor
had then about feventy-five thoufand men
tinder his command, all valiant, armed
with fabres, mafly-clubs, and arrows.
Irritated by the refi fiance he found, he
gave no quarter to thefe tribes, but feized
on all their riches. His fe verity fpread
terror fo much, throughout the country,
that the town of Santa Cruz made its fub^
million, p're vious even to his arrival.

Ambition, and the fuccefs of his arms,
determined Muley x*\rfhid to proceed to
lllec, the capital town of the principality
of Suz; at that time governed by Sidi Ali,

a Ma-

[ l37 ]

a Marabout, held in great veneration
throughout thofe diftricts. The Emperor
laid liege to the town, which was unable to
refift for want of provifions. Sidy All,
preffed by the inhabitants, whofe incon-
ftancy he dreaded, faw the town muft be
taken ; but, defirous of efcaping the cru-
elty of the conqueror, he and his whole fa-
mily fled, by night, .through a door in his
garden, and efcaped, into the province of*
Sudan, lying to the north of Senegal,
where he claimed an afylum, and the pro-
tection of the king.

After the departure of Sidy Ali, Illec
having opened its gates to Muley Arfhid,
he, covetous of glory, and emulous of fur-
mounting difficulties, refolved to pafs into
Sudan, and collected the neceflary provi-
fions for the traverfing of the deferts,
which feparated thefe countries.

When he came to the frontiers of the
fouth with his cavalry, har-raffed by fa-
tigue, he found more than a hundred
thoufand negroes in arms to difpute his
paffage. Unwilling to rifk the chance of

a battle

[ ^ 3

a battle in a country ib barren, and where
he had no place of retreat, he lent ibme
Alcaids to the king, to inform him he was
not come to make war, but to requeft he
would deliver into his nanas the prince of
Suz.

The king of Sudan replied, Sidy Ali had
fted to him for refuge and protection, con-
fequently he could not deliver him up
without violating the laws of hofpitality,
a crime impofliblc for him to commit ;
that, having already been deprived of his
Hates, it was but juft to preferve his life ;
and that he further defired, he,. Muley
Arfhid, would declare, whether he came as
as a friend, or an enemy,

- Remembering the hazard and peril of
his prefent fituation, Muley Arihid dif-
fembled his anger ; and, after having af-
fured the king of Sudan his intentions
were friendly, marched back toward his
own country. On this ocrafion he- pre-
vailed on many negroes to follow him, to
whom, treating them with generofity, he
confided the guard of the palace.

Having

C J39 ]

. Having extended his empire from the
Straits of Gibraltar to Cape Non, Muley
Arfhid beheld himfelf the moft puiffant
monarch of Africa ; he was equally defi-
rous of being the moft wealthy, and be-
ftowed all his attention on the amaffing of
riches. Detachments were fent through-
out the provinces to levy extraordinary
contributions, with orders to pillage on the
leaft refufal,

A Cafile, compofed of feveral tribes,
made fome refiftance, and this emperor fent
a detachment thither, with a command to
bring him the heads of the rebels. The
news of this expedition having occafioned
the greateft number to fly among the moun-
tains, the old men, women, and children,
only remained, who fell the miferable vic-
tims of this abject, this abhorrent decree.
Their heads font to Fez, and, expoied
round the walls of the city, fpread terror
throughout, the empire.

To ma(k his barbarity, under a pretence
of paying fome attention to juftice, for
defpots. as well in Morocco as elfewhere,

think

[ mo ]

think it neceffary thus to colour their capri-
cious cruelties, this Emperor commanded
that thofe who robbed travellers, or granted
any afylum to thieves, mould be fought
out, and their families exterminated ; fur-
ther ordering, that each province, and each
Douhar, mould become refponlible for the
crimes committed within their diftncl,
that, by their watchfulnefs, crimes might
be prevented. This ordinance gave the
people impreffions fomewhat more favou-
rable concerning their ferocious tyrant,
and was in itfelf good ..and ufeful; the
roads became fate, and the country people
could go and come, without danger, to
their markets, where they might barter
their mutual products.

The law was favourable to the poor,
who were much the moft numerous ; but
it alfo ferved to cloak the avidity of the
monarch, who, devoured by the thirft of
accumulating gold and filver, employed
every means his avarice could fuggeft to
ilrip the rich and great of their wealth,
and thus deprive them of the defire, or
the means, of infurre&ion. This maxim,

fo

[ Mi 3

fo proper in itfelf to exterminate nations,
appears to have become a ftate fyftem
in Morocco, and the devastation of that
empire demonstrates what are its wretched
confequences.

No longer occupied by projected con-
quefts, Muley Arfhid commanded various
caftles to be built in the provinces of his
empire, thereby to give his power {labi-
lity, and prevent the effects of inconftancy
among the people. The fmall fquare fort,
which ftands alone at Rabat, was built for
this intent.

The tyrant had now begun to indulge
himfelf in eafe, when the fons of his bro-
ther Mahomet, king of Tafilet, who had
taken refuge among the mountains, en-
tered into a confpiracy there to revenge the,
death of their father, and to feize on the
empire themfelves. They had gained
over the governor of Old Fez, who had
enjoyed their father's confidence, and him
they informed by letter of the place where
he was to meet and join their forces.
This letter they confided to a renegado, re-

com-

[ H2 3

commending him to kill the bearer, that
they might be certain of not being difco*
vered.

The renegado had fome fufpicions* and,
inftead of taking the letter to the governor,
went and prefented it to the Emperor, who
generouily rewarded his fidelity* The
Emperor immediately went to the place
appointed, that he might himfelf furprize
his nephews ; but, underftanding they were
betrayed, they took to flight, and efcaped,
though fired after by their purfuers ; they*
however, were overtaken and brought to
their uncle, who fent them prilbners to
the caftle of Teza, where he commanded
them to be put to death*

Having gone into the province of Rif,
in the begining of the year 1672, to amufe
himfelf with hunting, Muley Arfhid was
there informed, that his nephew, Muley
Meheres, whom he had left viceroy at Mo-
rocco, profiting by his abfence, had taken
up arms. The young prince had confided
in the Alcaid Abd-Elhafis Araze, whom the
Emperor had appointed to watch over his

conduct.

[ i43 3

conduct. This governor betrayed, him,
and, that he might do fo the more effectu-
ally, promifed to fecond his projects.

Muley Meheres propofed that he mould
go and feize on Saffi, whither he might
tranfport his treafure, and take precau-
tions for fafety, in cafe of ill-fuccefs.
Ahd-Elhafis acquiefced in all the willies
of the prince, and departed fooner than
was intended, under the pretext of fur-
thering his defigns, which, however, he
took the beft means to circumvent. After
having required the Alcaids of Saffi, and
the neighbouring towns, to be watchful for
their fafety, he repaired with all diligence
to the Emperor, and informed him of what
had palTed.

Little fufpicious of this, Muley Meheres
departed, during night, for Saffi, where he
expected he mould meet the Alcaid Abd-
Elhans. Finding, on his arrival, that the
town periilted in refilling to grant him ad-
mittance, the prince, feeing himfelf be-
trayed, took the road for Mazagan, to de-
mand refuge from the Portuguefe ; but,

being

[ *44 ]

being informed that the governor of Aza-»
more was in arms to prevent his pafTage,
he fled toward Sallee that he might efcape
to Mamora, which wTas under the dominion
of Spain. As he was croffing the river
of Sallee he perceived he was known ; he,
therefore, took the road toward Fez, that
he might avoid railing any fufpicion. He
foon, however, fawhe was followed by the
horfe of the Alcaid of Sallee, who had or-
ders not to lofe fight of him ; efcape
was now become impofiible, for, at three
quarters of a league from the river, and at
the entrance of the foreft, he encountered
the army of the Emperor, who was return-
ing from Rif, and marching in all hafte to-
word Saffi. Here, therefore, Muley Me-
heres was arretted, and gave up his arms.
The Emperor, having his nephew in his
power, immediately marched to Morocco,
that he might prevent any infurre&ion in
favour of this adventurous prince, who
was exceedingly beloved there by the peo-
ple ; but the city having teftified no incli-
nation to revolt, Muley Arfhid, to recom-
pence the fidelity of the officers, con-
firmed

C 145 1

firmed them in the places which had been
beftoxved on them by Muley Meheres.

The Emperor then commanded his ne-
phew to come before him, reproached him
for his diiloyalty, but, attributing this to
his youth and want of proper reflection,
ordered him to repair to Tanlet, there to
employ himfelf in the ftudy of the Coran,
and in gaining a more perfect knowledge
of his duties, as well as in the means of
rendering the enterprizes he mould in fu-
ture undertake more fuccefsful. The feaft
of facrifices approached, and, that it might
be celebrated with the greater magnifi-
cence, Muley Armid fent for the governors
of provinces and cities to be prefent, ac-
cording to the cuftom of that court. On
this occafion the Emperor, having drank
exceflrvely of wine, in company with fome
of his confidential friends, a cuftom to
which he was much addicted, took the
fancy of mounting his horfe, to amufe him-
felf after the manner of the Moors. After
prancing about in the allies of his garden,
he fpurred him forward, as may be well
Vol. II. L fuppofed,

[ M6 1

fuppofed, with too much ardour, and the
horfe ran with him into an alley of orange
trees, where he fractured his fkull, and
died three days after, on the twenty feventh
of March, 1672, in the forty-firft year of
his age.

Of all the Emperors who had governed
Morocco, Muley Armid was the firft who
had demonftrated a character natively
ferocious ; his reign was fhort, but marked
by a fucceffion of cruelties, the remem-
brance of which will not eafily be loft :
he had fo far contracted cruelty, by habit,
that it was even become one of his amufe-
mentsl

An Alcaid, returning from a journey,
vaunted of the fafety of the high roads
throughout the empire, which was fo
great that he had feen a fack of wal-
nuts which nobody had taken away. " And
" how didft thou know they were wal-
" nuts?" faid. the Emperor. " I touched
" the fack with my foot," replied the
Alcaid, " Sever that foot from his body/*
continued Muley Arfhid, " as a punifh*

" ment for his curiofity,"

I confine*

[ HI ]

I confine myfelf to this anecdote, un-
willing to afflift the feelings of the hu-
mane, by here relating the extravagant and
mad a&ions of a monfter. The relation
of fuch events as influence the fate of
nations, or the manners of men, are alone
abfolutely neceflary to hiftory.

L2 CHAP.

[ '48 ]

C H A P. IV.

Muley Ijlimael, equal in policy, and cruelty to$
and more avaricious than, his predecejfors :
emba flies, rebellions \ and Jieges, during his
reign.

A

FTER the death of Muley Arfhid,
his brother, Muley Haran, in all diligence,
began his journey toward Fez, that he
might feize upon the public treafury as
a certain means of fecuring empire to
himfelf and foldiers for the defence of
his power. Muley Ifhmael, however, who
was at Teza, and to whom the news was
brought by a meffengeron a dromedary*,

was

* A domedary can travel fixty leagues in a day ; his mo-
tion is (o rapid that the rider is obliged to be girthed to the
faddle, and to have a handkerchief before his mouth to
break the current of the wind *.

* Reckoning the league at two miles and a half, and the
day at twenty-four hours, this is ftill extraordinary travel -

i ling j

[ r49 ]

was already at Fez, and even proclaimed
Emperor before the arrival of his brother.
The latter, not daring to enter Fez, went
to Tafilet, there to aid his nephew, Muley
Achmet, with his advice, that he might
make himfelf matter of that part of Mo-
rocco where he was beloved, Muley Ha-
ran, having formed a party in Tafilet, was
acknowledged king ; and this was the firft
divifion of the empire, after it had been
united under Muley Arfhid, in coiifequence
of an unnatural mixture of valour, pru-
dence, and blood-thirfty cruelties.

Muley Ifhmael, who poffeffed the fame
qualities, and ftill greater vices, than his
brother, Muley Arfhid, was publicly ac-
knowledged Emperor in the city of Fez.
The Alcaid Carra, governor of the city of

iing; yet M. Saint Olon, ambaffador from Louis XIV. to
Muley Ifhmael, fays, the Moors allured him the Emperor's
uncle had travelled a hundred leagues in one day upon a dro-
dary ; which account, however, he held to be exaggerated.
Perhaps it was upon this occafion that the- uncle of Muley
Zftmael made fuch extraordinary hafte. T.

St. Qlon, Relation de VEmJ>. de Mar. f. 24.

L 3 Morocco,

E <5° ]

Morocco, devoted to Muley Achmet,
caufed the gates of the palace, of which
he was matter, to be (hut, and proclaimed
Achmet, king of Morocco, at the head
of the troops that were under his com-
mand. He fent intelligence of his pro-
ceedings to the prince, preffing him to
come and fecure his election by his pre-
fence.

Muley Achmet immediately departed
for Morocco, where he was received moft
favourably ; he was perfonally beloved,
and had alfo married the daughter of Mu-
ley Labes, who was born in that city, and
who therefore had a claim to the affeclion
of its inhabitants.

Informed of what had happened at Mo-
rocco, Muley Ifhmael marched thither with
his army in the fpring of 1673, before his
nephew had had fufficient time to provide
for his fecurity. After pafiing the river of
the negroes, Muley Ifhmael pitched his
camp near the green mountain, to the eaft of
the province of Duquella, where he learned
that his nephew was encamped within a

league

C 151 ]

league of the capital. Receiving ad-
vice of this, Muley Ifhmael ftruck his
tents, and marched within a fmall dis-
tance of his nephew, porting himfelf in a
vaft plain, where he immediately made
preparation for battle.

The two armies did not long remain idle
fpe£tators of each other ; fortune, for a
time, feemed indecifive ; but viftory, at
length, declared itfelf in favour of Muley
Immael, who had the beft troops. Little
accuftomed to gunpowder, the inhabitants
of Morocco had retired toward their ram-
parts, there to wait the event of the battle,
A profufion of duft, alfo in the plain, had
occafioned fo much confufion that nume-
rous foldiers perifhed in the canals, dug in
the earth, of which they were not aware*

Muley Achmet difcovered much courage
in this adlion, and was defirous of defying
his uncle to fingle combat ; but, having
been wounded by a ball in the thigh, and
in danger of being taken, he retired, for
momentary refpite, to the palace of his
brother, Muley Talbe ; and, after there
L 4 having

I '5* J

having his wound drefled, he fled from the
city to gain the mountain before the con-
clufion of the battle.

After M'.iley Ifhmael had made victory
fure, he entered the caftle, where he ima-
gined he fnould have found his nephew 2
the governor, Carra, informed him, he was
fled ; and this Emperor, with one ftroke of
his fabre, fevered the head of Carra from
his body.

Some horfemen, who had gone in pur-
suit of Muley Achmet, took him, he being
betrayed by the fon of a Shaik, to whom
he had fled for afylum. Afhamed of his
perfidy, the father purfued the horfemen
with a detachment, and once more reco-
vered the young prince, who immediately
fled to Tafilet.

We behold with veneration, that, in cli-
mates like thefe, deftined to flavery, there
are mountains which ferve as barriers to
independency, and people, though ferocious
and uncultivated, w7hofe fidelity is un-
fliaken toward the wretched fugitives

whom they protect.

Muley

[ 153 ]

Muley Ifhmael remained fometime at
Morocco to receive homage from the
neighbouring tribes and provinces, and
then made preparations to march into the
north of his empire. Not treating his
foldiers with the fame generofity as Muley
Arfhid had done, they at firft difcovered
marks of difcontent with the monarch's
conduct. The city of Fez, informed of
the fecret difpofition of the foldiers, en-
tered into a confpiracy, the members of
which fent a deputation to Tafilet, to de-
fire Muley Ach met would come and put
himfelf at their head.

The city of Teza fubmitted to this
prince, and the troops, that had partook
the dangers and difficulties of Muley Ifh-
mael, retired, and deferted from his ftan-
dard in open day. All the provinces were
eager to receive Muley Achmet wherever
he approached. The Alcaid Gayland, who
had fled from Arzilla under Muley Arfhid,
informed of thefe changes and troubles,
folicited and obtained aid from the Alge-
rines to recover his property and his go-
vernment,

[ '54 ]

vernment, in which he was prefently re»
inflated at the head of an army.

The old and new cities of Fez, divided
In their inclinations and interefts, daily
combated each other, the old in behalf of
Muley Achmet, the new for Muley Ifh-
xnael ; but, as the latter had the heft gene-
ral, it had alfo the moft influence among
the neighbouring tribes*

To prevent the mifchiefs that mud: re-
fult from the defection of the provinces,
Muley Immael, who had come before
Teza, thought proper to raife the fiege,
and march with twelve thoufand men, the
whole of his remaining forces, to give bat-
tle to the Alcaid Gayland, who had en-
camped near Alcaffar. The Emperor at-
tacked this brave general with fo much in-
trepidity that he put his forces to flight.
Gayland, notwithftanding the rout of his
army, fought like a man in defpair ; he had
four horfes killed under him, and, having
received^ a ball in his body, he fell, at
length, the victim of numbers, and his
2 head.

C 155 1

head, carried at the end of a lance, was
the rnofr. important trophy of victory.

The defeat of this general intimidated
the infurgents, who thought proper to fub-
mit, beholding fortune declare itfelf fo de-
cidedly for Muley Ifhmael. The conqueror
pardoned the city of Alcaffar ; and, after
eftablifhing peace in the province of Garb,
he marched toward Old Fez, endeavpuring,
by promifes, threats, and every means
which policy could fuggeft, to gain over
the inhabitants. Embarraffed and undecided
how to acl, the citizens affembled in the
mofque, where, following the counfel, and
affifted by the good offices of Sidi Abdel-
cader Feffi, a perfon held in veneration,
and whom they fuppofed could penetrate
the fecrets of futurity, they refolved to
implore the clemency of Muley Ifhmael.
Neither, however, confiding in the faith of
this Emperor, nor in all the promifes he
gave, they demanded that he fhould
folemnly make oath on the body of his
brother, which had been tranfported from
Morocco to Fez, there to be entombed.

Muley

[ i5« 3

Muley Ifhmael having concurred with
every requiiition of the citizens, the depu-
ties repaired to his palace, where, prof-
trating themfelves to the earth, they fup-
plicated pardon for the pair. The Em-
peror railed, embraced them all, and, after
hearing every thing SlcII Abdelcader Feili
had to fay, he took him by the hand, pro-
ceeded with him to the fepulchre of his
brother, and there Solemnly fwore peace,
according to the conditions demanded by
the deputies : the joyful people again re-*
turned to caft themfelves at the feet of the
monarch, and thanked him anew ; after
which, each man went quietly back to his
houfe.

Muley Ifhmael took advantage of this
momentary fecurity, cunningly, and with-
out tumult, to fend foldiers into the houfes
of the city, and feize on the arms of the
inhabitants. This was done with fo much
fecrefy, and dexterity, that no individual
fufpected what had happened to his next-
door neighbour. The Emperor remained
two months longer at Fez, where he dis-
tributed money among the troops, and thus

gained their affection.

In

[ *57 ]

In the beginning of 1674 Muley Ifh-
mael went to encounter his nephew, Muley
Achmet, who was encamped at no great
diftance from Fez. Being come in fight
of each other, the armies were obliged to
remain inactive for fome time, becaufe of
the rains that fell; each party likewife
hoped to vanquifh the other by frratagem.
This fufpence was favourable to Muley
Ifhmael, who beheld a part of his ne-
phew's troops, difcouraged by the ill-
fortune of the latter, defert to his army.
Muley Achmet, at length, retreated, and
took refuge in the province of Dara, there
to wait a more fovourable opportunity of
once more appearing in arms.

Muley Ifhmael, having returned to Fez,
diftributed money among his foidiers, and
marched toward the fouthem provinces,
there to re-eftabliih tranquillity, and re-
lieve the city of Morocco, which was all
but befieged by the mountaineers. The lat-
ter, informed of the approach of the Em-
peror, retired to their mountains, and the
monarch continued his march to Mo-
rocco,

C 158 ]

rocco, where he was received with demon**
ftrations of joy.

After a temporary repofe, Muley Ifhmael
proceeded to the province of Hea, where
he levied heavy contributions. He next
turned his march toward Mount Atlas,
fubjefted the Shabanets, and put numbers
of them to death by torture. He thence
departed into the province of Shavoya,
where the people obftinately refufed to pay
tribute* Thefe mountaineers, intrenched
in their vallies, and behind trees that they
had felled, rendered all the efforts of Muley
Ifhmael for a time fruitlefs ; at length, one
of his generals marching round the moun-
tain with four thoufand horfe to put them
between two fires, they, feeing themfelves
thus furrounded, took to flight, and aban-
doned their wives and children, who were
put to the fword ; the plunder, which was
very confiderable, was diflributed among
the foldiers.

After this expedition, which, in its cir-
cumftances, greatly refembled thofe of
Muley Arfliid, Muley Ifhmael returned to

Fez,

[ l59 ]
Fez, where he exa&ed a contribution from
the inhabitants of fifty quintals of filver,
which he, as a favour, reduced to thirty-
three, amounting to two hundred thou-
land livres (between eight and nine thou-
fand pounds.)

The cuftom of paying contributions by
a determinate weight of filver is very an-
cient, as we read in Saliuft. When Ju-
gurtha, king of Numidia, intreated cle-
mency from Rome, Metellus, who com-
manded in Africa, firft provifionally ex-
acted that he ihould pay the Romans two
hundred thoufand pounds weight of filver.
The quintal of filver in Morocco, as now
underftcod, is a ftated fum of a thoufand
ducats, amounting to fix thoufand fix hun-
dred livres, although a quintal of coined
filver is equal to more than ten thoufand
livres*

In 1675 an ambaffador arrived at the
court of Muley Ilhmael, from England,
who came to demand peace, and who,
among his prefents, had brought fome
Moors wTho had been enflaved. The Em-
peror,

[ '6o ]

peror, agreeably to the ufual mode and
expreffions of the court of Morocco, an--
fvvered, he would act according to his re-
quell, and that he Ihould return with fa-
tisfaction. At the very moment when the
treaty was to be concluded, a Marabout, all
in rags, but one of thofe who are faints by
trade, approached the king, and told him,
that the Prophet had appeared to him the
night before, and had commanded him to
inform the Emperor, Mahomet would aid
him to vanquifh his enemies, if he would
not make peace with the Englifh.

The king, pretending to venerate thefe
reveries, killed the dirty head of the Moor,
and informed the ambaffador, he was ex-
ceedingly forry he could not make peace
with him, for that he durlt not incur the
wrath of the Prophet. This anecdote per-
fectly depicts the conduct and instability of
the court of Morocco, where the defpot
never wants a fpecious pretext to act ac-
cording to his. will, or an excufe for neg-
lecting what he ought to perform, and
that which he may have moll folemnly
promifed.

In

[ 161 1

In the fame year the feeds of infurrec-
tion again began to fprout in the fouthern
part of the empire. Muley Achmet, for
whom the people ftill had fome predilec-
tion, had a momentary hope of afcending
the throne. The Moors of Tarudant, and
fome tribes of mountaineers, fent him their
deputies, fwore obedience, and offered to
xombat under him as their leader.

Confiding in this return of profperity,
the prince expedited a courier to the
princefs, his wife, who was at Morocco,
to inform her of what had parTed, and in-
duce her to procure him partifans in the ca-
pital. This princefs, by her artful and
kind behaviour to thofe women who vifi-
ted her, fo well difpofed the minds of the
citizens, in her hufband's favour, that they
promifed to receive him into the city, and
proclaim him Emperor. Muley Achmet,
pre-informed of thefe events, prefented,
himfelf before Morocco ; the great were all
in his intereft, and the common- people, im-
patient under the oppreffions of their then
governor, were ftill more-defirous of this

Vol. II. M change

C ^ 3

change* To prevent any tumult which
might refult from public proclamation ,
the night prayer was called on the
towers of the mofques, and heaven in-
voked for the prefervation of Muley Ach-
met ; this occalioned it to be fuppofed that
the prince was already in the city, and all
infurreclion was thereby impeded. Muley
Achmet entered in reality, followed by a
numerous train ; and the Alcaid, who go-
verned in the name of Muley Ifhmael, was
obliged to retire.

Muley Iflimael was at this time pro-
ceeding toward Sallee, when he heard of
the admiffion of Muley Achmet into Mo-
rocco. He fent his general, Meffaoot
Gerari, with four thou fan d horfe and five
hundred foot, whom he had felecled at
Sallee, to threaten the deft ruction of their
families if they failed hi their duty, and
waited himfelf for the remainder'of his army
from Fez. Meffaoot Gerari paffed the river
of the negroes with little refinance. Muley
Achrnetj who had only collected a few
troops to oppofe him on his pafTage, had,
wWfe the remainder, lain in ambufcade,

and

[ t6} ]

and fell fo opportunely on the van of the
forces of Meflaoot that he totally de-
feated the general, and obliged him to re«
pafs the river in diforder. Muley Achmet
gave a favourable reception to the van-
quished, and prevailed on many of them to
enter into his fervice.

Hearing of the defeat of his generals
the Emperor began his march, to come in
perfon and attack his nephew. By the
treachery of one of his- generals, Muley
Achmet was perfuaded to return to Mo-
rocco, and not march and give battle; it was
urged this would but expofe him to the
hazard of a defeat, in combating an army
which would deftroy itfelf. The army of
Muley Ifhmael, in effect, fufFered greatly for
want of fubiiftence, the provinces having
been laid defolate^ and almoft rendered de-
fert by the late fuccefiion of civil wars.
The Emperor approached but flowly to-
ward Morocco, having been informed by
the general, who was in his interefr,
that his army was inferior to that of his
nephew,

M * Nor

[ i64 ]

Nor was this incertitude the only diffi-
culty Muley Ifhmael had to encounter du-
ring the campaign. The comparifon
which his troops drew, between the cha-
racter of himfelf and that of his nephew,
was (o highly to the favour of the latter,
that a confpiracy was formed in his camp ;
from the confequences of which the Em-
peror efcaped almoft by miracle. The
principal Alcaids, fecretly inclined to fa-
vour Muley Ach met, entered into a plot to
affaffinate the monarch, who even was
flightly wounded in the arm by the ball of
a mufket, which one of the confpirators
fired. The guilty, however, were feized,
put to death, and their effeds confifcated
by the Emperor. A few of them only ef-
caped, who entered into the fervice of
Muley Achmet.

The treachery of the general of Muley
Achmet having been at this time-difco-
vered, by the intelligence the fugitives
brought, and various intercepted meffages,
he was put to death, and his body, after
being dragged through the city, was denied
the rites of fepulture.

i Muley

[ % ]

Muley Ifhmael, unable to meet his ne-
phew with equal forces, determined to
march befide Mount Atlas, and there en-
deavoured to gain over fome tribes to his
party. He paffed thence toward Santa
Cruz, which place had put itfelf under the
government of Muley Achmet. Not
daring to entangle himlelf among the
mountains, he could only fend letters,
hoping, by gentlenefs and promifes, to
regain the city.

The inhabitants of Santa Cruz, who
were capable of felf-defence, and who ab-
horred Muley Ifhmael for his various cru-
elties, returned his letters unanfwered, and
even commanded the meffengers to inform
him of the imprecations they uttered on
his head. Obliged to diffemble his refent-
ment, the Emperor retreated, again march-
ing befide the mountains, to wait fome fit
opportunity of furprizing the enemy.

His march was attended with unexpected

fuccefs ; his nephew, having fuppoled

him at the diftance of {even days journey

from Morocco, had fent a part of his

M 3 forces,

[ x66 ]

forces, confining of hufbandmen, to ga-
ther in the harveft, and remained only with
a few foldiers. Muley Ifhmael, informed
of this, fuddenly advanced, and came and
pitched his camp within a day's march of
Morocco. Muley Achmet haftily affem-
bledthe hufbandmen of the environs, and,
finding himfelf at the head of twenty-eight
thoufand men, pitched his camp without
the walls of the city.

Muley Ifhmael approached the camp of
his nephew, where he two days remained,
obferving the enemy's motions, hoping that
the foldiers of Muley Achmet would de-
fert, as the intelligence of fome fugitives
had led him to fuppofe. Defirous of
coming to action, Muley Achmet made a
motion with his army, and Muley Ifhmael
then began the attack. The nephew, who
had made this manoeuvre purpofely to
bring on a battle, fought with fo much va-
lour that he routed the forces of Muley
Ifhmael, who loft more than three thoufand
men,

Muley

[ *«7 ]

Muley Achmet, now matter of the field
of battle, had not the prudence to profit by
victory ; inftead of purfuing the retreating
enemy, his army was employed in rejoic-
ings, which gave Muley Ifhmael time to
rally his troops, and come to a fecond ac-
tion, in which victory declared in his fa-
vour. The forces of his nephew, who
little expected again to be attacked fo fud-
denly, were entirely routed, and the prince,
obliged to re-enter Morocco, precipitately
abandoned a part of his army, which mife-
rably perifhed.

Muley Ifhmael then thought proper to
blockade the capital, but the fallies which
Muley Achmet occafionally made obliged
him not to approach too near; a greater
misfortune for him ftill was that, his army
not being fufficiently numerous totally to
circumvent the city, it received fupplies
with facility, while Muley Ifhmael was
himfelf in want, becaufe of the deteftation
in which he was held by the neighbouring
people,

M 4 Wearied

E 168 ]

Wearied by the length of the liege,
Muley Ifhmaei made propofitions of peace
to his nephew, offering him the vice roy-
alty of Morocco in perpetuity ; but the
youthful prince, full of courage, proud of
paft fuccefs, and frill prouder of the fide-
lity of his foldiers, haughtily anfwered,
that he who thrice had been a king never
£hou!d ccnfent to become a fubjecl:, and
that it would be his glory to defend fo-
yereignty by feats of arms.

Muley Ifhmaei next propofed an inter-
view with him in a neighbouring fanc-
tuary, whither each of them was to re-
pair, accompanied by ten perfons. Muley
Achmet confented, and was the firfr at the
appointed hofpitium, Muley Ifhmaei
came, but with perfidious intents ; he
had commanded a detachment of cavalry
to come to his aid, and carry off his
nephew.

The interview began by mutual com-
pliments. Muley Iflimael purpofely en-
deavoured to lengthen the conference, that
he might obtain time for the arrival of his

horfe ;

horfc ; but one of the attendants of Mil-
ky Achmet, who was upon the watch,
perceiving a cloud of duft at a diftance, re-
lated his iufpicions to his mailer, and the
young prince accordingly mounted his
horfe, and reproached his uncle with
cowardice and treachery. Lefs irritated
by this jufi obloquy than by the fai-
lure of the plot he had contrived, Muley
Jfhmael returned to his camp, where he
vented his wrath againft the foldiers ; a
great number of whom forfook him, and
went over to Muley Achmet.

Muley Ifhmael attempted once more to
cut fhort this protracted fiege, by keep-
ing fpies in the city of Morocco, and
making preparations to fcale the city walls
with a imall detachment, which was to ren-
der itfelf mafter of one of the gates.
The project, however, failed ; fome of the
moft determined affailants arrived fafely on
the walls ; but, having been there encoun-
tered by the cuftomary patrol^, and una-
ble to defcend, becaufe that the fcaling lad-
ders were taken a\vay? they were cut in
pieces.

Muley

[ l7° ]

Muley Achmet profited bythisle{Ton,au4
refolved to employ none but thofe foldiers of
whofe fidelity he was well allured, in guard*
mg the out-works. He alfo forbade the in-
habitants to affemble, and cut off a number
of the Sharifs who were in the city, and
who had adted as fpies for Muley ImmaeL

The befieged continued to make fome
failles, which equally enfeebled both par-
ties. Muley Achmet would himfelf have
been taken by the generals of his uncle,
had they not been moil: fortunately killed
by the cannon of the city, at the very mo-
ment when it was impoftible he mould
have efcaped. Muley Ifhmael loft on this
occafion his general, Meflaoot Gerari, and
a confidential Alcaid.

To the length of this fiege, and the in-
certitude of fuccefs, was added a ft ill
greater caufe of vexation; the Emperor
Jiad no means of gratifying his troops, that,
for fometime paft, had received no pay.
To extricate himfelf from this difficulty,
in 1677, he invited the Shaik Sidi Semagh,
Alcaid of the mountains of Tedla, to come
2 and

[ '7* ]

and pay him a vifit; the monarch made
him eat with himfelf, flattered, careffed
him, gave him hopes of a {till better go-
vernment, and intreatcd he would lend
him a fum to pay his forces.

Vain of the diftinguifhed manner in
which he was treated, and the benevolent
intentions of the Emperor, the Shaik fent to
his government, and ordered a prefent of fix
hundred negroes, of both fexes, eight hun-
dred horfes, a thoufand camels, four hundred
mules and twenty-five quintals of filver,
amounting to a hundred and fixty thoufand
livres *, (or upward of fix thoufand fix
hundred pounds), w7hich he intreated the
monarch would accept. Muleylfhmaelwas
aftoniftied at the magnificence of the gift;
it led him to fuppofe that this Shaik was ftill
polTeffed of greater wealth, and, liftening

* Twenty-five quintals of filver, according to the
former and following estimates of the author, are but a hun-
dred thoufand livres ; the fum of fixty thoufand livres,
therefore, is either appropriated to the remainder of the
prefent to which it is apparently inadequate, or there is an
error of the prefs. T.

only

[ 172 ]

only to his avidity, he arrefted him, under
the pretence that he intended to revolt, and
fix months after had him beheaded, having
firft feized on ail his pofleffions, which, in-
deed, was the only crime of which he could
be accufcd.

Other Shaiks, coming likewife to vifit
Muley Ifhmael with very considerable pre -
fents, met a like favourable reception ; but,
terrified by the capricious conduct of the
Emperor toward the Shaik of Tedla, they
knew not how to interpret all the polite-
nefs he testified ; a thoufand times they
reiterated their protections of fidelity,
which ferved but to difcover the fecret
dread by which they were tormented.
Artful and treacherous in his nature, Muley
Ifhmael turned this embarraflmeiit, which
the Shaiks, by their conduct, made vifible,
to his own profit, and exacted from them a
hundred and fifty quintals of filver, or a mil-
lion of livres (upward of forty-one thoufand
pounds), a number of fheep, oxen, horfes,
camels, and a thoufand negroes, of both
fexes. The governors did not fail to raife

this

[ *73 ]

this contribution, and efrcemed themfelves
happy in having efcaped fo well.

Similar extortions, and certain homages,
which were voluntarily paid, by fome tribes,
to the Emperor, enabled him to maintain
his army before Morocco, without, how-
ever, empowering him to take the city.
Muley Achmet, on the contrary, block-
aded as he was, found himfelf expofed to
the want of fuccour, when a happy incident
relieved them both from their perplexity.

Muley Haran, king of Tafilet, the bro-
ther of Mnley Ifhmael, uncle and father-
in-law to Muley Achmet, beheld with re-
gret thefe two princes at war with each
other, and determined to repair to Morocco,
in the hope of being able once more to
eftabliih concord. This Sharif was ex-
ceedingly well received by Muley fthmael,
whom he promised, a few days after, to
enter the city of Morocco, which he ac-
cordingly did, and where Muley Achmet
received him with all kindnefs.

Muley

[ m 3

Muley Iiaran took infinite trouble to
pacify his brother and nephew, and, by his
repeated efforts with them individually, he,
at length, accomplifhed his wifhed-for pur-
pofe ; a treaty was concluded, in which it
was ftipulated that Muley Achmet mould
preferve the title of king, but retire to
Dara, the fovereignty of which he mould
poffefs, that the foldiers attached to this
prince mould be permitted to leave Mo-
rocco, and follow him with arms and bag-
gage, and that Muley lmmael mould pardon
the city of Morocco, with each and all of its
inhabitants, without entering into any en-
quiries concerning the origin of, or per-
fons concerned in* this war; to which
were added, other articles of reciprocal fe-
curity.

Muley Achmet, Hot having confulted the
citizens of Morocco concerning this treaty,
left the place by night, with all his effects
and equipage, and accompanied by the moft
faithful of his troops, under the pretence of
going on fome fee ret expedition.

Informed

[ m 1

Informed on the morrow of the peace
concluded between Muley Immaei and his
nephew, the inhabitants of Morocco were
in the utmoft alarm ; the Talbes were de-
puted by the city* followed by all the chil-
dren, and preceded by white flags, to im-
plore mercy from the Emperor, who appa-
rently granted them pardon.

The Emperor entered the city, in com-
pany with his brother Muley Haran ; after
which he vitlted the caMle, and there, per-
ceiving that the magazine fcarcely con-
tained proviiions fufficient for a week, he
tore his beard up by the roots in his rage*
accufed Muley Haran, his brother, of trea-
chery, caufed him to be feized in his camp,
and fent one of his generals with a large
detachment to deprive him of his kingdom
of Tafllet. He afterward fuffered his troops
to enter the city, permitted them to pillage,
and commit ail kinds of licentioufhefs,
and perfonally practifed every violence^
which his own barbarity could infpire,
againft the principal inhabitants, without
ttfptSt to his word* his treaty, or the faith

of

[ i/6 I

of that capitulation, on which the city had
been yielded.

The actions of Muley Ifhmael can only
be recollected with horror ; his art, his
cunning, his falfehood, his contradictions,
and all the defpicable means he employed
to accomplifTi his defires, betokened a mean
foul, incapable of elevation, and by nature
ignoble.

Scarcely had he reduced Morocco before
he received advice of an infurreftion,
which had fuddenly broken out in the pro-
vince of Shavoya, and the neighbourhood
of Meqninez. The arrival of Mahomet
El-Hadgy-Ben-Abdallah, one of the fons
of the Alcaid Ben-Buker, who governed
this country during the reign of Muley
Arfhid, gave occafion to this revolt. The
Shaik, after making a long abode at Mecca,
had journied to Conftantinople, there to.
folicit protection from the Grand Signior,
who, accordingly, had commanded the
divan of Algiers to grant him fuccours.

Mahomet

C 177 ]

Mahomet El-Hadgy was received in his
domains with tranfports of joy ; fo great
was the degree of refpeft that he acquired,
among the tribes fcattered over the moun-
tains, that Muley Ifhmael, conceiving
the danger to be coniiderable, fent va-
rious detachments* firft, and afterward
marched himfelf, with the remainder of his
army. Mahomet El-Hadgy, having more
than fixty thoufand men under his com-
mand, little, it is true, inured to war, made
the neceffary difpofitions to encounter Mu-
ley Ifhmael, who was marching to give
him battle*

' Arrived at the foot of the mountain with,
fome artillery, the Emperor fo difpofed his
cavalry that it might attack the enemy
when retreating* His troops received the dis-
charge of muiketry, arrows, and flings, of
this ill-difciplined army ; to which Muley
Ifhmael replied by an explofion from a bat-
tery of ten cannon, loaded with balls, which
made the infurgents give ground; the ca-
valry had time to efcape, but the infantry,
: being furrounded, was moft of it put to the
Vol. II. N fword;

C >7* 1

fword ; the Emperor purfued the cavalry
with a detachment for three days, and put all
to death who fell into his power.

On his return to the camp, he fell fword
in hand upon the women and children, and
fent ten thoufand heads to Fez and Morocco
to be fixed upon the walls of thofe cities*
thereby to announce his victory, and fpread
terror throughout the whole empire.

Having thus terminated, by events as
fortunate as they were inhuman and detec-
table, a war, which had endured three
years, Muley Ifhmael repaired to Mequi-
nez, there to enjoy repofe. During his
abfence, the vail: palace he had begun had
been finifhed, in which he difplayed the ut-
moft magnificence. On his entrance into
this palace, he received vrfits from all the
grandees of his kingdom, who eagerly
came to make him rich prefents.-

In -full enjoyment, at length, of all the

£weets of eafe, and voluptuoufnefs of vicer

the Emperor indulged himfelf in the native

affe&ions of his temperament, and the im-

i pulfe

[ l79 1

puiie of his character. That he might add
to the variety of his pleafures, he daily
augmented the number of his concubines ;
he kept a rmrfery of flaves, ever agitated
by fear, and whom he ill-treated, or cut off,
on the flighted: pretext* The domeiKcs of
his palace, and thofe Chriftian flaves whom
the fate of arms delivered over to the
power of his Gorfairs, underwent a fimilai
treatment.

Wholly regardlefs of the lives of men*
this Emperor made it his paftime to affaffi-
nate them with his own hand. The days
fet apart for prayer were generally de-
dicated by him to thefe maflacreSj and
thus did he eftimate his facrilegious devo-
tion by the number of his murders.

Turn we our eyes from a£ts fo horrid^
at which nature fhudders ; the relation of
them is to be found in fo many books that
it would be fuperfluous, here, to add new
teftimonies of the barbarities of tyranny
and defpotifiru

N 2 Afflifled

[ iW ]

Afflicled as it had been by a fucceffion of
devaluations, the empire of Morocco, in
1678, had ftill new to encounter ; the plague,
which had been introduced bv the commu-
nication between Algiers and Tetuan, made
dreadful ravages ; there are narratives that
fay this contagion fwept away more than
four million of people from the empire,
which, to me, appears, indeed, very extra-
ordinary. This dreadful fcourge of man, the
facrifices which Muley Arfhid and Muley
Ifhmael made to their ambition, their ava-
rice, and wild ferocity, the revolutions
which fucceeded under Muley Abdallah,
and the various other calamities which, be-
neath a government fo arbitrary, continue
to deftroy the human race, are fo many phy-
ilcal and moral caufes that account for the
prefent depopulation of the empire.

Notwithstanding the progrefs of the con-
tagion, which fpread ftill more fatally in the
northern parts, the Alcaids of the environs
of Tangiers made various attempts on that
town, which, at that time, was under the
dominion of England. The Alcaid of
Alcaffar, Amar-Hadoo*, in the month of
2 March,

I 181 ]

March, made himfelf mailer of two fmall
advanced forts, in which he furprized
twenty foldiers, and feized a fingle brafs
cannon, on which was the arms of Por-
tugal.

Conducted to Mequinez with much
pomp, and difplayed as a trophy, Muley
Ifhmael himfelf left the city, attended by
a numerous train, to go and receive this
cannon. Thrice he proftrated himfelf to
earth, thanking God for the nrft victory he
had gained over the Chriftians. The Al-
caid, Amar Hadoo, was made viceroy of
the province of .Garb.

This fame year the Emperor determined
to leave Mequinez ; the plague committed
its ravages in the environs of the city, and
he himfelf was inwardly devoured by that
fpirit of inquietude which was irreconcil-
able to fo long a repofe. He went to pais
the hot feafon among the mountains, in the
neighbourhood of Atlas, on the banks of
the Mulluvia, whence he fent to demand
contributions from the neighbouring Brebes.
Thefe mountaineers, favoured as they were
N 3 by

by iituation, refufed to obey the commands
of the Emperor ; and he, finding himfelf
unable to fubjeft them by force of arms,
diffembled his refentrnent, and thought
proper to reft fatisfied with fuch tribute as
they mould think proper to pay.

About this time there was an infurrec-
tion at Tafilet, which was raifed by Muley
Haran, the brother of the Emperor, whom
he had ftripped of fovereign power. Muley
Ifhmael, having repaired thither, routed the
infurgents, and reftored tranquillity to that
part of his empire, Toward the. end of
the year, leaving Tafilet, he marched befide
Mount Atlas to exa£t contributions from
the Brebes, who were difperfed among the
mountains. The tribes that were unable
to oppofe him by force of arms fubmitted,
and paid what he required ; but thofe that,
by their fituation, were able to refift him,
oppofed his will with fo much refolution
that the Emperor was, not only obliged to.
renounce his enterprize, but, endeavour to
make them his friends, promifing to leave
them in tranquillity.

Thi*

[ i83 ]

This folemn promife was guaranteed bv
the facrifice of a camel, (lain at the foot of
the mountain, as a pledge of the faith of
Muley Ifhmael, Thus fecured, the chiefs
left their mountains to falute the Emperor,
and offer him their prefents ; and they, alio,
in turn, received prefents on his part, Thefe
people hold fuch kind of facrifices in fo
much reverence that it is the atteftation
of mutual confidence, which is employed as
a means to calm the anger of the monarch ;
or make peace, when any caufe of rancour
exifts among therrifelves,

Although it is cnftomary among the
Moors to offer up facrifices to God, in grati-
tude for favours beftowed, and afterward to
diftribute the animals thus facrificed among
the poor, I do not think fuch oblations
ought to be confounded with the facrifice
performed on this occafion by Muley Ifli-
mael, and which often are offered up by the
different Mooriih tribes to calm or difpel
their inteftine quarrels. Such facrifices
fhould, I apprehend, be confidered as folemn
vows, which are not to be violated : this is
a cuftom made facred by ages, known in
N 4 times.

[ i8* J

times more remote than the birth of Ma-
hometanifm, and, perhaps, peculiar to the
nations of Africa. From Livy we learn
that Hannibal, on the eve of giving battle
to Scipio, on the banks of the Po, after
making many promifes to the foldiers of
his army, to encourage them to fight valo-
roufly, took a lamb, and in treated Jupiter
and the heavenly deities, that, mould he
break his promife, he might himfelf perifh,
as that lamb was about to perifh. The
foldiers, adds thehiftorian, received the pro-
mifed hope, as if it had been fent from the
Gods themfelves *«

The valour with which thefe mountai-
neers had firft refifted Muley Ifhmael in-
fpired all the people of the neighbourhood
with courage, which, however, could not
make him defift. Impelled by the hope of
booty, he rafhly entered among the moun-
tains, without fufficiently forefeeing all the
dangers cf the enterprize. Endeavouring
to terrify thefe Brebes, who lived in brutal

• Liv. lib. XXI.

ienorance,

t 185 ]

ignorance, he threatened he would give
them to the Chriftians to eat alive, of whom
they had formed fanciful and monftrous
pictures ; but this terror had little effect,
when they beheld, as they themfelves faid,
that a Chriftian had the head, the body, the
arms, and the legs, of a man.

The army of the Emperor was detained
among the mountains by fnow, which had
clofed up the roads, and might have expofed
it to perifh with famine. However, he
opened himfelf paffages among thefe preci-
pices, and abandoned his camp to a detach-
ment, which, that it might not miferably pe-
rifh with cold and hunger, afterward aban-
doned it alfo. In this campaign, Muley Iftv-
mael loft about three thoufand tents,, the
wealth that he had amaffed, and a part of his
army, the rear guard of which was har-
raffed by the mountaineers, who took the
baggage.

Having gained the plain of Morocco, the
Emperor there was joined by the Eaihaw
Seroni, who waited for him at the head of
the troops of that province. This reinforce-
ment

C '86 ]

merit fo far recruited his army that he was
enabled to grant repofe to the foldiers, who
had efcaped this unfortunate expedition.

Humbled by his imprudence, Muley Ifh*
mael flowly returned toward Mequinez, and
put to death his Vifir, Abdaraman Fileli,
Abufing the power committed to him by
the monarch, this minifter had indulged
himfelf, during the abfence of IfhmaeJ, in
every kind of prevarication, violating the
molt facred rights, without refpefting even
the wives of the principal Moors, who ac-
cufed him publicly in perfon. After break-*
ing the arm of this man with a piftol fliot,
Muley Ifhmael commanded him to be
dragged through his camp, fewed up in the
hide of an ox.

All the perfons in the train of this viiir
were put to death, as accomplices of his ex-
tortions, and the abufe of his authority, du-
ring the abfence of the Emperor, This fe-
verity, which prefents a picture of the vio*
lence of arbitrary government, was, per-
haps, equally criminal on the part of the

prince

[ it? }

prince with the guilty acts his vifir had
committed ,

Here it is proper to ohferve that the mo-
narchs of Morocco, defirous to imitate the
Ottoman court, have fornetimes had vifirs ;
but fuch eminent lituations, La this empire,
have neither the fame fplendor nor the fame
power as thofe at Conftantinople. Autho-
rity cannot be delegated, except when it is
founded on rational principles, which it is
not in a government truely and abfolutely
defpotic, where each ad: depends on the ar-
bitrary will of one man. A viiir, of Mo-
rocco, is called by the fame title occafionally
there as in Turkey ; but equal puiflance he
never can enjoy.

Muley Ifhmael arrived at Mequinez at
the feaft of facrifices, whither he had con-
voked all the grandees, who haftened to
bring him prefents ; for, at that court, the
vilit and the prefent are not only paid toge-
ther, but, it is, in fome meafure, admiffible
to delay the viiit, provided care is taken
only to lend the nrefent.

The

C 188 ]

The ambitious projects of Muley Ifhmael,
and the various difficulties he had to en-
counter in the beginning of his reign,
made him fuppofe the neceffity of main-
taining a body of confidential troops ; he
therefore conceived the project of form-
ing a corps of negro foldiers, that mould
immediately be under his command. To
accomplim this the more quickly, exclu-
five of the negroes that Muley Arfhid al-
ready had collected, he purchafed himfelf a
great number of blacks, male and female,
and accuftomed his grandees to fend them
as prefents.

After marrying and fetting apart terri-
tories for their habitations, he gave a de-
gree of {lability to this generation of (laves,
educated them in the Mahometan religion,
accuftomed them to the ufe of arms, and
made foldiers of them, who became formi-
dable to the natives* A monarch fo abfolute,
and fo capricious, as was Muley llhmael,
had good reafon to fear the flcklenefs and
difcontent of his enflaved fubjecls, whom
his violent conduct muft continually render
liable to revolt, and who could not be kept

peaceable

t i89 ]

peaceable but by overawing them with
troops, whofe intereft fhould alfo be the in-
tereft of the defpot.

In this precife fituation were the ne-
groes. They were defpifed by the Moors,
as well becauft of the prejudice entertained
concerning their colour, which the white
men have every where configned to (la very,
as becaufe of the idolatrous worfhip they
maintained*. They alio were foreigners.
While fighting for the glory of their maf-
ter, they fulfilled their military duty, and
at the fame time took vengeance for the ha-
tred in which they were held by the Moors*
By this artful policy, and the rival-
fhip which Muley Ifhmael knew how to
raiie between his foldiers and his fubjecls,
this monarch found the means of holding
in fubjection, during a long reign, all the
provinces of an empire accuftomed to a
change of mailers, and which otherwiie

* The negroes adore the Sun, and even mingle this ado*
ration with Manometanifm ; although this, of all errors, is
the moil pr.fdonable, the Moors do not the lefs regard it as

;doJatrouc.

the

C 190 ]

the barbarity of the prince muft foon of
late have obliged to rebel*

After having exercifed his negroes in mi*
Ikary dicipline, the Emperor, that he might
add to the ftrength of men the power of
fuperftition, confecrated them, with cere-
mony, to the profperity of religion* Fol-
lowing the example of the Sultan Amu-
rath, who, when he formed the corps of
Janizaries, fent them to Hadgy Bedtafch *i
that he might beftow his benediction on
them, Muley Immael appointed his ne-
groes as a patron, and the fignal of rally-
ing, Sidi Boccari,one of the commentators of
the Koran, on wrhich book he made them
take the oath of allegiance* This book,
from that time, was, and is ftill, carried re-
fpedtfully in the army. It is depofited in a
diftinguifhed tent, placed in the centre of
the camp, as the image of their woorfhip,
and the pledge of their fidelity.

* Hadgi Be&afch, a Saint, in eftirffafioii among the
Turks, and the founder of the Dervifes, cttt the fleeve
from a felt robe which he wore* that it might lerve as a
model for the bonnet of the Janiflaries*

Htrbeiot £ib. Orien.

All

c m j

All the troops aft under the fame au-
ipices, but none, except the blacks, the
Ludaya, or other tribes, deftined perfon-
ally to guard the Emperor,, obtain the fur-
name of El-Boccari, which is thus meant
to fignify thofe foldiers who are immedi-
ately in the fervice of the prince ; that is to
lay, who conftitute the {landing army.
This negro corps, from that time, became
the individual guard of Muiey Ifhmael, nor
did he ever find guards more faithful.
His fucceffors, though they have made
fome reforms, have nearly followed the
lame plan-
After the monarch had quieted thofer
troubles, by which his empire had been dif-
tracted, he was feized with a paffion for
building, and the embellifhment of his pa-
lace became his amufement. Indulging
his own inftability of temper, and having in
the beginning no fixed plan, what he built
one day he would pull down the next, giv-
ing himfelf the plans of the works lie
would have executed. In dedicating him-
felf to this emnlovment. the barbarian found

more

[ *92 ]

more frequent oecafions of indulging his
cruelties ; thefe, indeed, he made his fport*

Chriftian (laves* or other workmen* em-
ployed in executing his commands, often
fell the vi&ims of his blood- thirfty caprices.
If the bricks they made were found too
fmall, they were broken upon the head
of the brickrnaker. The workmen all
were punifhed, either by pecuniary mulcts,
or by chaftifements analogous to their
profeffion. Still further to diveriify his
amufements* and render his idlenefs more
fupportable, he fent for various lions, which
he ordered to be enclofed in a park ; and
to thefe he occafionally delivered the poor
wretches he felefted* finding an inhu^
man pleafure in being a fpe&ator of the
combat,

In the beginning of April* 1680, Muley
Ifhmael, ever the enemy of tranquillity,
fent forces, under the Alcaid Amar-Hadoo,
to lay liege to Tangiers. This general
made himfelf mafter of a fmall fort, gar-
rifoned by forty men, who, finding it im-
poflible they fhculd receive fuccour front

the

t m i

the town, rather chofe to capitulate than id
expofe themfelves to perifh, by defending
their poft.

The governor of fort Charles, alfo, per-
ceiving he could not long defend himfelf
for want of provifions, determined to aban-
don this fort, and, with his troops, to rein-
force the garrifoti'df the eaftle. Having
concerted his retreat with the commander
of the eaftle, he cut his way through the
intrenchments of the Moors. Of feventy
men wrho had garrifoned fort Charles, and
had made this defperate fally, about forty
were faved, and attained the caftle ; the
reft were either taken, or killed. The
commander had undermined fort Charles,
and blew it up. The Moors took eighteen
cannon, which had been fpiked, and were
therefore rendered ufelefs. Muley Ifhmael
made great rejoicings for this fuccefs.

In the fame year, the Chevalier de
Chateau Renaud, the commander of a
French fleet, appeared ia the road of Sallee
with ten (hips of war. His intent was to

vol. II, O block

[ *94 ]

block up this port, and endeavour to make
an advantageous peace. The Alcaid Amar-
Hadoo, viceroy of Garb, whofe duty it was
to negotiate with him in the abfence of the
Emperor, had feveral conferences with the
perfons fent by the French commander*
Thefe negotiations, however, were all
fruitleis, and tended to no other purpofe
than that of multiplying prefents, and in-
creafing expences, according to the cuftom
of the court of Morocco,; where they will
promifeahy thing, but where no affairs can
be brought to a eoncluilon*

The Emperor, at this time, had marched
toward Tremecen. there to chaftife the
mountaineers who had granted an afylum
to his fugitive brothers. He received
homage from the tribes inhabiting the
lefler Atlas : they made their excufes for
having granted the refuge, by which he
was offended, and, without difficulty, paid
the contributions he thought proper to
impofe.

As the Moors of Tremecen had often

demanded affiftance from Muley Ifhmael

I againft

t m 3-

fcgainft the Turks of Algiers, who were
in pofleffion of that city, he wiihed him-
felf to examine the condition in which it
was ; but he found it fo well guarded, and
in fo good a ftate of defence, that he faw no
hope of a fuccefsful enterprife. The
Divan of Algiers penetrated his intentions,
and wrote to hirn that, if he thought the
limits by which they were feparated fome-
what too confined, he muft impofe it as a
duty on himfelf, to extend them (i. e. re-
move himfelf ) far even as from the Ocean
to the Defert. Muley Ifhmael received this
letter, ftruck his tents, and returned no
other anfwer than that of marching back
toward Mequinez.

Having re-entered his capital, the plea-
fure he took in building again revived, and,
under the pretence of enlarging and ag-
grandizing his palace, he alternately built
up and pulled down ; partly to indulge the
inconftancy of his temper, and partly to
occupy thofe about his perfon. He re-
marked, with great acutenefs, meaning to
piclure the reftlefsnefs of men, and, per-
haps, to juftify his own, that, " were a
O 2 iC number

[ ,96 ]

€< number of rats put into a bafket, they

■" would certainly eat their way out,

" unlefs the bafket were continually

" fhaken ."

Toward the end of the year 1680, Mu-
ley Achmet, the nephew of Muley Iih-
mael, who had three years before retired
from Morocco with the title of King of
Dara, having entered into an alliance with
a Shaik, of the kingdom of Suz, whofe
daughter he had married, aided by the ad-
vice and troops of his father-in-law, af*
fumed the title of King of Suz. The in-
tention of this prince, whofe delight was
only in war, was to invade the kingdom of
Sudan, he having been promifed aid by the
Arabs of the defert.

s

Having aftembled his forces, and collec-
ted the pro virions neceflary for croffing the
defert, which feparates the principality of
Suz from the kingdom of Sudan, Muley
Achmet began his march, and was joined
by the Arabs of the neighbouring pro-
■ vinces. His army fuffered much for want
of water, and he loft about fifteen hundred

men

C *97 ]

men among the moving fands, which he
was obliged to crofs, and which, in this
defert, vary their form according to. the
variations of the wind.

Muley Achmet, at length, arrived in
Sudan, and layed fiege to Tagaret, the ca-
pital of that kingdom. The negroes, who
were fhut up in the city, made fome refif-
tance ; but, having only lances and jave-
lins to oppofe to fire arms, their defence
was ineffectual, and the place furrendered
at difcretion, when it was on the eve of
being ftormed. The riches Tagaret con-
tained were fufficient to load fifty camels :
a great part of them confifted in gold
duft,

Muley Achmet. agreed that the fon of
the king of Sudan mould give him ten
thoufand negro flaves, for his ranfom, and
that they fhculd be feat to the frontiers of
his ftates ; which agreement was accord-
ingly executed. After concluding this
treaty, Muley Achmet returned toward
Suz, and underwent his former difficulties
ip traverfing the defert, where many of his7
O3 fol-

[ i9S ]

followers perifhed, and where he loft fe~
vera] camels that bore a part of the riches
he had taken. Once more fafely arrived
at Tarudant, he fent meffengers to Muley
Ifhrnael, his uncle, announcing the fuccefs
of his expedition, and with them a num-
ber of flaves, of both fexes, as a prefent.

Muley Ifhrnael, ever forming new pro-
jects, and having no other amufement at
Mequinez than what his wives and concu-
bines, his buildings, and the exercife of his
cruelties, could afford, wearied at this uni-
formity of life, undertook, in 1681, the
conqueft of the caftle of Mamora, which
was in the power of the Spaniards. In-
formed, by a fugitive, how entirely theplace
had been neglected, fince the death of Phi-
lip IV., and that the garrifon was daily
weakened, by thofe difeafes which the hu-
midity of the marflies were the caufes of,
the Emperor fent an order to the Alcaid
Amar-Hadoo to aflemble the troops in the
province of Garb, and inveft the caftle.

Arrived before Mamora, that general
foon deftroyed the lines, which were

• formed

[ *99 ]

formed only of flakes and palifadoes. He
iikewife took two towers, facing the fea,
in which there were only twelve men,
who, unequal to ten thoufand, capitulated,
-on condition their lives lhould be faved.
The general did more ; he granted them
their liberty, fent them into the place, and
bade them inform the governor and the
garrifon, that, if they did not yield, they
would all be put to the fword on the ar-
rival of Muley ImmaeL The very name
of this man fo difcou raged the foldiers
that they rather chofe to encounter the lots
of liberty, than to expofe themfelves to his
barbarity, by defending a place fo ill pro-
vided. In this extremity the governor faw
himfelf obliged to furrender, and the gar-
rifon were made prifoners of war.

Muley Ifhmael, who was encamped in
the environs of Alcaliar, received ad-
vice of the capitulation of Mamora, and
marched thither on the morrow. Finding
in the place near one hundred pieces of ar-
tillery, numerous arms, and much ammu-
nition, he proftrated himfelf to earth, and
returned thanks to the Almighty for this
O 4 conqueft.

[ 2QG ]

Conqueft. From this time, ambitious of
feizing other places en the coaft, he fent
the governor of Mamora to Laracha, there
to inform the commander, and garrifon,
they fhonld be treated with the utmoft
rigour, if they refufed to furrender.

In the month of June, and the fame
year, the Chevalier de Chateau Renaud an-
chored once more in the road of Sallee,
with a fquadron of four mips ; and, having
deftroyed foine Corfairs, Muley Ifhmael
fent orders to Amar-Hadoo to conclude a
truce. This negotiation, which was one
continued chain of contradictions, not be-
ing brought to a conclufion, the Emperor
refolved to fend the Hadgi Themin, go-
vernor of Tetuan,'and Caffem Menino,
brother to the governor of Sallee, ambaf-
fadors, into France, on board the royal
fquadron*

Thefe Ambaffadors arrived at Paris to-
ward the end of December. It was the
intention of Muley Iihmael to equivocate ;
their million, therefore, went no farther
than to announce the defire of, without

the

[ 201 ]

the power to conclude, peace. Every de-
lay, of which this negotiation was fufcep-
tible, and every new impediment, being an
additional motive for new prefents, Muley
Ifhmael was eager to renew the confer-
ences.

The Emperor, constitutionally ambi-
tious, and admiring the fplendour of the
reign of Loms XIV., who fingly refifted
Europe, leagued againft him, appeared de-
firous of concluding a treaty of peace with
this monarch. He therefore wrote to
Louis XIV., requesting he would commit
the negotiation to a confidential perfon,
with whom he might treat, offering like-
wife to fend an ambaflador himfelf, mould
that be agreeable to the king.

In confequence of this invitation, Mon-
fieur de St. Olon made a voyage to Mequi-
r,ez, as ambaffador of France, which had
no other efTedl than that of demonstrating
the inftability of the court of Morocco,
and the ambiguous character of Muley Ifh-
mael. Eager to feize on the prefents fent
by the court of France, the Emperor
2 eluded,

[ 2°2 3

eluded, by various fpecious pretexts, the
motives of an embaffy which he difavowed,
although it had been made at his own re-

qu

eft*

Much about this time the Englifh par-
liament, diigufted with the expence of
maintaining Tangiers, from which the na-
tion had imagined it mould derive great ad-
vantages, and which, inftead of profitable,
was found burdenfome, refolved to abandon
the place. Confequently, in 1684, the
Englifh withdrew their garrifon, ftores, and
artillery, and blew up the mole, and the for-
tifications which had been conflructed by
Charles II. This was new caufe of tri-
umph to Muley Ifhmael, who aifecled to
fuppofe that England had forfaken Tan-
giers, and reftored it to him, from the
dread they entertained of his arms.

Glorying in the conqueft of Mamora,
and the abandoning of Tangiers, the Em-
peror made preparations, in 1687, to be-

* Memoires de M. de St. Olon.

fie°"e

C 203 j

fiege Laracha. After the necefiary ftores
were collected, he marched, and laid fiege to
the place ; in the following year he erected
batteries on the fouth fide, and blockaded
it by land. The town refitted his affaults
during five months, but, at length, capitu-
lated in 1 689. It appears that the garrifon"
remained the prifoners of Muley Ifhmael,
and was only allowed to be exchanged, on
condition of reftoring ten Moors for one
Chriftian.

Thus having the towns of Mamora, La-
racha, and Tangiers, in his power, the-
next attempt of Muley Ifhmael was to take
Ceuta. In 1694 he affembled more than
forty thoufand men, and layed fiege to this
fortrefs ; but, perceiving he fhould be una-
ble to vanquifh it, unlefs he could render
himfelf fuperior by fea, he contented him-
felf with blockading it on the land fide, and
fecuring his camp from furprize.

There were feme fkirmifhes between the
Moors and the Chriftians, when the Spa-
niards made occasional fallies, but the lois
©n both fides was inconfiderable. The

Moors

[ 204 ]

Moors being, however, greatly disturbed
by the bombs and grenadoes, which were
thrown from the town, Muley Ifhmael
thought proper to encamp at a greater dis-
tance. He afterward left the command of
his army to the viceroy of Garb, who
merely lay a fpeclator of, without bciieg-
Uig, Ceuta,

The wars whkh happened in Spain at
the beginning of the prefent century, after
the death of Charles II., gave Muley Ifh-
mael the hope of conquering the place
with lefs difficulty. He therefore forti-
fied the Moorifh camp, ere&ed houfes for
the commanders of his forces, huts for the,
foldiers, ordered the fiege to be begun anew,
and the place never to be forfakem

The Moors had languidly lain more than
twenty years before Ceuta, when Philip V.
of Spain determined to drive them to a
greater diftance. In 1720 this prince fent
an army thither, under the command of
the Marquis of Leda, accompanied by a
number of gallies and fhips.

The

[ *os ]

The Spanifh army attacked the centre
of the Moors, while the fhips bombarded
the wings, and with io much fuccefs that
the Moors were thrown into diforder.
The Marquis purfued his advantage with
lo much ardour that, in four hours, he not
only drove them from their intrenchments,
but alfo from one valley to another, with-
out their daring to make further refinance.
When the Spaniards returned to the
Moorifh camp, they found four Mortars,
fome pieces of artillery, four pair of co-
lours, and many ftores.

1 have interrupted the order of the hiftory
of Muley Ifhmael that I might prefent,
under one point of view, all the attempts of
that Emperor againft Ceuta. Although the
Moors, after his reign, never made any at-
tack upon this town, their camp of obfer-
vation has continued to exiit, and, in de~
ipite of the good underftanding which has
lately been reciprocal, between the court of
Spain and that of Morocco, the intercourfe,
between the- carnp of the Moors and the
town of Ceuta, is mutually maintained
with circumfpeclion.

Not

[ 206 ]

Not by devaluations, conquefts, and ai±U
bitious projects alone, was the empire of
Morocco, under Muley IfhmaeJ, agitated :
as he advanced in years, his fons whofe
numbers, ambition, and turbulence of cha-
racter, led to new revolutions, and the
commiffion of new crimes, made him fen-
fible, in the beginning of the prefent cen-
tury, of all thofe cares and vexations which
he well might expect, from that reftleflnefs,
and ferocity, of which he had given them
an example.

Independent of the influence which the
young princes began to acquire over pro-
vinces, the fubjects of which, groaning be-*
neath oppreffion, were ever ready to change
their matter, domeftic ambition, likewife,
gave birth to domeftic troubles. Secret
intrigues were carried on by the wives of
the Emperor, each of whom endeavoured
to favour the intereft of her own fon, to the
prejudice of the other brothers, and the
provinces which thefe princes governed
long fuffered from their factions, and the
perfonal animofities with which fuch fac-
tions were maintained.

Muley

[ . 207 ]

Muley Mahomet, who, of all the fons of
Muley Ifhmael, mod merited to be beloved^
by the qualities he poflefTed, and the hand-
fomenefs of his perfon, was the one who
2*ave his father the moft chagrin. His
mother was a Georgian, purchafed at Al-
giers, who, by her accomplishments and
beauty, had acquired fome empire over
the heart of this barbarous monarch.
The pre-eminence he held in the public
opinion had rendered Muley Mahomet au-
dacious, and, regardlefs of the facred afy-
lum of the palace, consulting only the head-
ftrong and illegitimate paffions of youth,
had entered the feraglio of his father, to
the intrigues and violences of which he
fell a facrifice. A fate that the more cer-
tainly attends fuch intruders, becaufe that
thefe intrigues are carried on in filence and
fecrefy.

One of the queens*, of negro origin,
the mother of Mulev Zidaii, ambitious and

* In Morocco they indifferently give the name of quedn,
and that of Lela, or Lady, to the wives of the Emperor ;
whom they call Ladies only, and not queens, in the Serag-
lio of the Grand Signior.

intriguing,

[ 268 ]

intriguing, and who, by the art with
which file could en flame the paffions5
fhared the depraved heart of Muley Ifli-
mael, determined to effect the deftruction
both of her rival and her rival's fon,
and, by this means, aflertain the affection
of ■ the father for Muley Zidan. This
queen, by her influence, and the natural
afcendancy of her character, had acquired
an authority over the other women, who,
like herfelf, were jealous of the Emperor's
partiality for the Georgian ; fhe therefore
induced them to confpire with her, confirm
the fufpicions (he had raifed of infidelity,
and they thus obtained from Muley Ifh-
mael, in an atrocious moment of love and
rage, permiffion to have her ftrangled.

Grown cool, and left to reflection, the
Emperor was much affected by her death,
and his attachment for Muley Mahomet
was inereafed. In order to remove him
from the intrigues of Lela Zidana, whofe
powers of feduction he himfelf dreaded,
he bellowed on him the government of
Tafilet. This prince, who was governor
of Fez, and who preferred that city as a

place

[ 209 ]

place of refidence, eluded his departure,
under a pretence of illnefs. His father,
unwilling to control his repugnance, agreed
to fend him into the province of Suz to
Muley Sharif, who had fucceeded Muley
Achme.fr

Muley Mahomet had been but a fhort
time in his government before, according
to the Emperor's deiire, he appeafed infur-
re£Hons raifed near Tarudant, and the fuc-
cefs of the prince, on this occaiion, became
the caufe of his misfortunes,

Lela Zidana, who, with vexation, be-
held that the conduit of Muley Mahomet
gave him a farther claim over the affec-
tions of his father, fet every poffible en-
gine in play to accomplifh his deftru£tion.
She wrote a letter to the prince, to which
fhe affixed the imperial fignet, and therein
commanded him to put a Shaik to death,
who was moft highly in the favour of the
Emperor. The prince executed the order
he received moft relu&antly. Being fum-
moned to Mequinez, there to juftify him-

VoL. II. P fdf

[ 2I° ]

felf concerning the death of the Shaik,
he prefented his father's letter, to which
he had only paid obedience out of refpe£t
to the will of the Emperor.

Beholding his power thus abufed, Muley
Ifhmael, at firft, was furious ; but Lela
Zidana fo fuccefsfully employed her arts
that he fent back his ion to Tarudant, and
rewarded the children of the Shaik to re-
compenfe them for the lofs of their fa-
ther.

Muley Mahomet, after having been
fummoned to Mequinez, there to anfwer
an accufation fo malicious and fo wicked,
was inconfolable to behold the facility with
which his father gave way to firft impref-
fions, and, knowing no means of counter-
acting the plots of Lela Zidana, whom he
held in abhorrence, he rafhly entertained
projedts of rebellion. Muley Ilhmael, by let-
ters he received, judged what were his
foil's intents ; but, having undertaken an
expedition againft the regency of Algiers,
and being on the eve of departure, he wrould
not change his plan.

The

[ 211 ]

The monarch began his march, toward
the commencement of the prefent century,
with more than fixty thoufand men ; the
army of the Algerines fcarcely exceeded
ten thoufand, but it was compofed of
much better troops, and encamped itfelf
on the frontiers, there to wait for the army
of Muley Ifhmael, which, when it arrived,
was harrafled by fatigue, and in want of
all neceflaries. The Algerines began the
attack with intrepidity, and without lofs
of time ; the army of the Emperor was
routed, and Muley Ifhmael, who, for more
than thirty years, had fought againft the
Moors with unfailing fuccefs, was obliged
to retire, and re-enter his ftates, after an
ignominious battle.

Muley Mahomet took advantage of the
impreffion which the defeat of his father
had made on the minds of his fubjedls, to
render himfelf mafter of Morocco. He
marched thither with near forty thoufand
men, whofe fidelity was fecured by the
perfonal qualities, fine figure, and bravery
of their leader. The capital at that time
was governed by the Alcai4 Melek, who
P z fhut

[ 212 ]

(hut the city gates, difpatched meflengers1
to the king for fuccour, and ca.ufed the
treafure of the palace to be fecretly bu-
ried.

Muley Mahomet, who had no artillery,
found it impoflible to take Morocco, un-
lefs by furprife ; he therefore divided his
army into two corps, the one of which
concealed itfelf near the city, while he
began his march with the other as if re-
treating. Deceived by this ftratagem, as
the prince had forefeen, the Alcaid Melek
made a fally with his forces to attack Mu-
ley Mahomet as he retired ; and the other
corps, leaving its place of concealment,
fell upon the Alcaid in the rear, who was
thus furrounded, and his army, in part,
Slaughtered, while the prince rendered
himfelf mafter of the city. Muley Ma-
homet indulged his troops in pillage, as a
reward for their valour, and feized himfelf
en the treafures, buried by the Alcaid,
which were immediately difcovered to him
by a young Have,

i Muley

t 2I3 1

Muley Iftimael, on receiving the aSvice
fent by the Alcaid of Morocco, ordered an
army to march to the fuccour of that city,
under the command of Muley Zidan, the
fon of that artful queen, who, by her
fafcinations, her intrigues, and plots, had
occasioned the rebellion of Muley Maho-
met. The latter prince, informed of his
brother's march, retired to Tarudanr?
where he provided for his fafety. Among
his officers was an Alcaid, the kinfman of
Lela Zidana, who informed the court of
all tran factions, and who, having been
difcovered, was beheaded.

When Muley Mahomet had affembled
fufficient money and troops, he deter-
mined to march againft Muley Zidan, who
had a fine army. Muley Mahomet gave
the command of his van to the Alcaid
Melek, the former governor of Morocco,
who had entered into his fervice. Melek
fufFered himfelf to be furrounded by the
troops of Muley Zidan, which occafioned
the lofs of the battle.

P 3 Seeing

[ 2I4 ]

Seeing the van of his army in the power
of the enemy, Muley Mahomet was
obliged to fly. The prifoners were con-
ducted to Morocco, whence the chiefs were
fent to the Emperor, who put them to tor-
menting deaths. The Alcaid Melek him*
felf, who had been guilty of treachery
only thereby to obtain pardon, was facri-
ficed to the vengeance of Lela Zidana.
She would not forgive him for having, by
order of the prince, beheaded her relation,
who had a&ed as a fpy. To render cru-
elty more infernal, this unhappy man
was fixed to a board, and fawed down the
back.

Muley; Zidan, encouraged by viflory,
and the flight of Muley Mahomet, deter-
mined to march and befiege Tarudant ; but
having been repulfed in various lallies,made
by the befieged, he was obliged to retire^
Every artifice of treachery wras then em-
ployed by this prince to enfnare his bro-
ther, and to corrupt his partifnns. Having
placed fome troops in ambuicade to feize
on him, one day, as he rode out, Muley
Mahomet, notwithflanding all his efforts,

was

[ «5 ]

was taken and brought prifoner to Mo-
rocco, whence he was fent by Muley Zi-
dan, under a ftrong guard, to the Emperor,
in the year 1 706.

After having afflicted the reader by an
uninterrupted fucceffion of crimes and cru-
elties, I would it were in my power to
omit fcenes ftill-more tragical, and, under
an impenetrable veil, to conceal the atro-
cious acts of a violent and barbarous fa-
ther, toward a ram, unfortunate, and guilty
fon.

Muley Mahomet approached Mequinez
on his journey, when the Emperor went
to meet him at the river of Beth, there to
punifh his rebellion, and avoid all intercef-
fions in his behalf. I mail fupprefs the
mocking preparations which Muley Ifh-
mael made for the ferocious exercife of
vengeance. They both arrived on the
banks of the Beth on the fame day. The.
Emperor paffed four-and-twenty hours
without admitting him to his prefence ;
when he, at length, fent for him, the
prince fell proftrate to the earth, and fup-
P 4 plicated

r 216 3

plicated pardon for his errors in the moft
affecting terms, His father prefented him
the point of his lance, and the prince,
fearing death lefs than thofe preparations
which did but multiply its horrors *, again
humbly conjured him to grant him pardon,
and ever after to depend on his fubmiffion
and fidelity.

The inflexible Iihmael, who had fo far
forgotten all human pity as to be pref nt
at the punishment of his fori, and the fou
whom he had moft loved, commanded two
men to feizt him, and a third, a butcher,
to cut off his right hand. The latter re-
fufed, preferring, as he laid, death to the
facrilegious .61 of bathing his hand in the
blood of a Sharif. Enraged at a fentiment
fo generous, the Emperor ftruck off the
head of the butcher, and called another,

* Father Bufnot informs us that the Emperor was pre-
ceded by a guard of two thoufand horfe, and one thoufand
foot ; that fourteen Chriftian llaves carried a cauldron, 3
hundred weight of tar, or pitch, and as much oil and tal-
low ^ and that they were followed by a cart load of wood,
and n«x butchers, each with his knife in his hand. T.

iv

ho

[ 2I7 1

who executed his will by cutting off the
right hand, and the right foot, of the un-
fortunate prince.

M Now, doft thou know thy father, wretch !M feid Iflimael.

He then feized a mufket, and killed the
Moor who had cut off the hand and foot of
his foil. Mahomet, groaning under pain
as he was, could not forbear to remind
him of the guilty incoufiftency of a fo«
vereign, who equally murdered the man,
who refufed to execute his orders, and him
who obeyed. Pitch was then applied to the
leg and arm of the fuffering prince as a
ftyptic, and the Emperor, ftained with the
blood of his fon, commanded his guards
to bring him living, under pain of inftant
execution,, to Mequinez.

The recital of this tragical fcene fpread
terror and confirmation through the city ;
the palace refounded with lamentaions,
groans, and flirieks, and Muley Iflimael,
unable to afluage their grief by the feverity
of his orders, maffacred feveral women

who

[ 2lS ]

who had dared to difobey, till for row, at
length, was obliged to weep in filence.

The children of Muley Mahomet only
were allowed to mourn, but were not ad-
mitted any more to fee their father. The
prince lived thirteen days in torments, and
demanded to be buried, not as a prince, but
as a (lave, for fo he had been treated by his
father. Iihmael, however, built him a
maufoleum, and thereby preferved to pof-
terity a memento of his own barbarity.

After the defeat of his rival, Muley
Zidan, with little internal caufe of hap-
pinefs, returned to Tarudant once more to
befiege that city, in which the remainder
of the revolted had fhut themfelves up,
which he furrounded fo entirely that famine
made dreadful ravages among the citizens,
and it was obliged to furrender at difcre-
tion. More ferocious, more avaricious,
more inhuman, even than his very father,
Muley Zidan, committed every kind of
barbarity in Tarudant, and, by his cruel-
ties, ju ftified the opinion entertained of
him in his youth, that in him ail the vices

of the human heart were united.

The

[ 219 ]

The horrors, robberies, and maffacres,
commited by Muley Zidan in the city of
Tarudant, being publifhed, fo terrified the
Moors of the neighbouring provinces and
towns, that they fled for refuge among the
rocks, and no where fuppofed themfelves
in fafety, The town of Santa-Cruz was
at the fame time evacuted, that is to fay,
in 171 2 ; and when this prince marched
thither, to befiege it, he found no perfon
but an old woman and a blind Jew, who,
becaufe of their infirmities, were unable
to feek a hiding place. The foldiers of the
prince finding no further refiftance, the
Moors every where flying, enriched them-
felves with pillage, and were indulged in
every kind of licentioufhefs.

The fuccefs of Muley Zidan, his troops,
and his treafures, began highly to difturb
Muley Ifhinael, who was inceffantly preyed
upon by his paffions ; the Emperor re-
pented fomewhat too iate that he had
beftowed the command of his army on
his fon, and invented various pretexts to
recal him to Mequinez ; but Muley Zidan,
who meditated far other projects, delayed

his

[ 220 ]

his return from year to year, alledging
that his prefence was ftill neceffiiry, totally
to fubdue the infurgents.

The better to deceive his fon, Muley
Ifhmael occafioned a report to be fpread
that he was ill, and forbore to appear in
public, at the fame time that he prevailed
on the mother of Muley Zidan artfully to
fend for her foil to Mequinez, in order that,
in cafe of death, he might the more eafily
poffefs himfelf of the government ; but
the prince, well acquainted with all the
iubtleties of his father, fufpe&ed the in-
telligence, and paid no attention to this
advice. His mother wrote a fecond letter,
telling him, that his father was at the point
of death, and that, if he did not inconti-
nently return, he would be too late to pay
the laft duties of a fon. Whether my fa-
ther live or die, replied the prince, I will
not forfake the army, which, in cafe of his
deceafe, will but the better afcertain my
fucceffion.

The rumours of the illnefs of Muley.
Ifhmael, and the fear that he was in reality

dead,

[ MI ]

dead, gave rife to fome commotions in the
provinces. The citizens of Mequinez were
ripe for revolt, when Lela Zidana, who
governed defpotically, under the pretence
of the Emperor's illnefs, fallied from the
palace with a lance in her hand, attended
by a guard of armed foldiers, to re-efta-
blifh tranquillity, and even arrogantly
commanded fome negroes, whom (lie en-
countered as flie paired, to be punifhed.

An event fo lingular, among a people
where the women never appear in public,
and under a government in which they
are fuppofed to have no right to empire,
aftonifhed the citizens, who, believing the
king dead, imagined that this ambitious
princefs, whom they fecretly detefted, in-
tended to feize on the fovereign authority.
This fuppofition fpread fo quickly, and ex-
cited fo great an alarm, that Lela Zidana
was obliged to re-enter the palace.

The Emperor, who had not been feen in
public during fifty days, informed of the
commotion among the inhabitants of the
city, inftantly left his retreat, and over-
awed

[ 222 j

awed the people by his prefence, who tef-*
tifyed the fatisfaftion they received to be-
hold him alive. The pretended recovery
of Muley Jfhmael was the caufe of public
rejoicings, and he received the vifits of the
Alcaids, the grandees, and deputies of pro-
vinces and towns, on the occafion, who
brought with them the cuftomary pre-
fents.

Highly regretting that he had not been
able, by artifice, to inveigle Muley Zidan
to Mequinez, the Emperor, confultingonly
the violence and ferocity of his charac-
ter, now took other means to difencumber
himfelf of this prince. He well knew
how much he was addicted to drunken-
nefs, and that, in the fury of intoxication,
he fo far abandoned himfelf to his cruelty
that his very wives and concubines were
not in fafety. Thefe he made his inftru-
ments to obtain his purpofe. The wives
of Muley Zidan had little reluctance in
complying with the barbarous defire of
Muley Ifhmael, for they had no other pof-
fible means of freeing themfelves from the
tyranny to which they were hourly fub-

jecled.

[ 223 ]

je&ed. Surrounding him in one of his fits
of drunkennefs, they fmothered Muley
Zidan between two mattrefles, and thus
delivered the world of a monfter un-
equalled in depravity.

The body of the prince was taken from
Tarudant to Mequinez by the command of
his mother, and there interred. The Em-
peror, that he might conceal the part he
had taken in his death, built a maufo-
leum, and a mofque, to his memory, in
which an afylum is given to criminals ;
and thus, under a fuppofed idea of fanc-
tity, is the memory of a prince held in
veneration, who had abandoned himfelf
to every vice, lived detefted by the nation,
a rebel to his father and his Emperor, and,
contemning the laws of his religion, died
in drunkennefs.

After being informed of the death of
Muley Zidan, Muley Ifhmael, governed by
that fpirit of contradiction which, in him,
was a chara&eriftic quality, commanded the
feven wives of this prince to be brought
from Mequinez, and along with them the

Jew

f 224 ]

Jew merchant, who had fupplied them
with the brandy, by drinking which he
had made himfeif drunk. Lela Zidana*
as well worthy to be the wife of Muley
Ifhmael as the mother of Muley Zidan, fa«*
crificed thefe eight victims to the barbarity
of her revenge. Her cruelty was detef-
tably atrocious. She ordered the breafts to
be fevered from three of thefe women, and
obliged them to eat them previous to their
being ftrangled.

Nero, Caligula, Heliogabalus, were ab*
horrent villains ; yet Nero, Caligula*
Heliogabalus, themfelves, were unequal
to the fends of whofe acts I give but a
partial relation.

The death of Muley Zidan happened in
I jz i, and his brother, Abdelmeleck, fuc-
ceeded to the government of the fouth,
where he, at firft, behaved with difcretion ;
but the diftance at which he lived from
his father, the ambition of reigning, the
levity of the people, and the internal vices
of the government, which, here combined,
infpire rebellion among fuch princes, foon

rendered

C 225 i

rendered hirh equally guilty with his bro-
thers: A&ing with defpotic authority
over the princes he gdverned, Abdelmeleck
prefently became fufpe&ed by his father,
and even had the temerity to refufe paying
him tribute.

The Emperor, whofe great age no longer
permitted him to traverfe deferts that he
might punifh infurgents, poffeffing now
no other* arms than thofe of artifice, wrote
his fon letters, the moft tender and confi-
dential, that he might perfuade him to re-
turn to court, in which he even infinuated
it was his intent to abdicate the empire in
his favour. .Well acquainted with his fa-
ther, Abdelmeleck anfwered with like art,
and in the moll refpedtful terms, that he
might remove thofe fufpicions which he
appeared to have entertained. Muley Ifh-
mael, difembling his vexation, feigned to
be fatisfied with the conduct of his fon, and
made no more intreaties ; but, fecretly
nourifhing hatred in his heart againfl this
prince, he determined to leave his younger
brother, Muley AchmetDaiby, his fucceflbr

Vol. II. Q^ in

[ 226 ]

in fovereignty. Some have fuppofed it was
the Emperor's intention to make the nation
regret his memory, by leaving a fucceffor
unworthy of the fceptre, and incapable of
government.

After reigning fifty- four years'* continu-
ally agitated by inquietude, fufpicion, or
revolt, and fy Hying his fceptre by the moft
tragical fcenes, Muley Ifhmael died on the
22nd of March, 1727, aged eighty one,
Adtive, enterprizing, and politic, this Em-
peror has tarnifhed the glory of his reign
by his avarice, his duplicity, his oppref-
fions, his mjuftice, and a continuation of
barbarities, the relation of which would be
dreadful, and the remembrance of which
time only can efface.

Addicted to fenfuality, Muley Ifhmael
had a prodigious number of wives, and, fo
numerous was his pofterity, that, it is
doubted whether he himfelf knew all his
children. If the common opinion may
be credited, he had more than eight hun-
dred fons ; and there ftill remains at Ta-
filet a confiderable body of the Sharifs,
I who

[ 22; ]

who are the defendants of Muley Ifhmael,
of his brothers, or his forefathers.

The Moors relate that the laft child of
this fovereign was born eighteen months
after the death of his father, and the
Talbes decided that child birth, with re-
fpect to him> had departed from the order
of nature. The time of geftation, how-
ever, is certainly not longer in Morocco
than in Europe ; but phyficians, in the lat-
ter country, are lefs indulgent in their opi-
nions*

Muley Ifhmael, who, among a number
of vices, poffeffed fome good qualities, was
ardent in the purfuit of his projects, art-
ful in policy, and diftinguiflied his reign
by his application to the forming of troops
from the negro families, and their defen-
dants, whom he acquired from the coaft of
Guinea* This population of foreign fol-
diers, whofe intereft was ever oppofite to
that of the Moors, but ever connected
with that of the monarch, has planted in
the heart of the empire a new and diftindT:
nation. After the death of Mulev Im-
Qz ma el.

[ 228 ]

mael, the number of the negro foldiers ca-
pable of bearing arms, amounted to about
one hundred thoufand. This warlike and
infolent foldiery, which was made the in-
strument of the avarice of Muley Ifhmael,
and by whofe aid he gratified all his paf-
fions, had great influence in the revolu-
tions, which, after the death of this Em-
peror, have fo much agitated Morocco.
The Negroes might have fubjugated the
empire in the fame manner as the Tartars
have feized on China, had there been
found among them ambitious leaders, as ca-
pable of forming as they were of executing
projects fo great. During fuch tempef-
tuous intervals the empire became, for fe~
veral years, the prey of this avaricious body,
which never gave the fucccfTors of Muley
Ifhmael time fufficient to fecure their au-
thority. They refembled the Roman le-
gions, during the decline of that empire,
they elected Emperors on one day, and de-
throned them on the next*

CHAR

[ 229 ]

CHAP. V.

Muley Achmet Daiby proclaimed by the
Grandees and the Negroes. Duquella fub-
jedled. Avarice of the Emperor. Re-
volt of Abdelmeleck. Brutality \ drunken-
nefs, and indolence^ of Muley Achmet.
Abdelmeleck Jir angled. Death of the 'Em-
peror.

JVlULEY Achmet Daiby, the only fon
of Muley Ifhmael who happened to be at
Mequinez when his father died, behaved
himfelf with fo much prudence, by the
council and aid of the governor of that
city, that he difconcerted the proje&s of
his brothers, Abdelmeleck and Abdallah,
wrho, being both his feniors, had that claim
to empire, and the confidence of the peo-
ple, which age and experience give. The
troops of the latter, while he was waiting
0^3 fome

[ 23© ]

fome revolution in his favour, voluntarily
abandoned his party, which had not afcen^
dancy fufficient to withftand his opponents.

The grandees, and the officers of the
Negroes, being aflembled, the dav after the
death of Muley Ifhmael, unanimoufly pro«*
claimed Muley Achmet Daiby, and took
the oath of fidelity, The new Emperor
gave them two hundred thoufand ducats,
about one million three hundred thoufand
livres, or fifty-four thoufand pounds fterl-
ing, to diftribute among the troops ; and they,
encouraged by this generofity, marched
againft the provinces that gave any tokens
of infurrection, and that, after having loft
Muley Ifhmael, fuppofed they no longer
had a mafterf

The Moors of the province of Duquella,
and of its environs, having taken up arms
againft Muley Achmet Daiby, were en-
tirely defeated and fubjefted. This vic-
tory, which added to the afcendancy the
Negroes had acquired, re-eftablifhed order
and tranquillity in the other provinces.

Muley

C 23* ]

Muley Achmet Daiby was only generous
from policy : he was by character as ava-
ricious as his father had been. In the very
beginning of his reign he took all poffible
care to know and to increafe his trea-
fury. So little refpe&fui was his avidity
that he even ftript the wives of his father,
of .the gold and iilver jewels which they
had received, in the moments of his caprice,
or his liberality. The wealth left by Mu-
ley Ifhmael was confiderable, and Muley
Achmet himfelf had been an ceconomift, fo
that the treafury of the Emperor might
amount to one hundred millions of livres,
or near four millions two hundred thoufand
pounds, Yet did this mafs of money, ac-
cumulated by time and oppreffion, foon
after, difappear in an inftant.

Dazzled at beholding fuch heaps of gold,
Muley Achmet, as avaricious as he was in-
temperate, neglected the cares of govern-
ment, and dedicated himfelf wholly to his
pleafures. He yielded to the debauchery
of drunkennefs, without referve ; and this
paffion, which alienated the love of his
people, was the fource of his misfortunes.
0^4 In-

C 232 ]

In order to gain the affection of his fubjects,
in the beginning of his reign he iffued an
edict, by which he reduced all taxation to
that of fimply collecting the tenths, as
prefcribed by the law of Mahomet. Yet
did not a regulation fo wife produce effects
which ought to have been the refult, but
rather ferved to manifeft the abufe of au-
thority among the governors, who profited
by the vices of the imperial power to
increafe their extortions. The provinces
became fo much diffatisfied that the people,
in many parts, took up arms to redrefs
their grievances, and thus fpread confufion
throughout the empireo

The moft of thefe provinces, beholding,
with repugnance, the irregular conduct of
Muley Achmet Daiby, were fecretly in-
clined toward prince Abdelmeleck, who
was a religious obferver of the' law.
They, however, durft not openly teflify
their difcontent. Muley Achmet being
informed of the difpofition of the people,
and perplexed concerning the manner in
which he ought to act, wifhed to fecure
the fidelity of the Negroes by his gifts, and

almoit

[ *33 ]

almoft wholly confided the imperial admi-
riiftration of government, to the caprice
and fickle avarice of his troops.

Such implicit confidence, prodigally be-
flowed on foreign foldiers, whom the
Moors detefted, ftill further alienated the
minds of men, and the fermentation be-
came general. Sedition firft manifefted it-
felf at Fez, the governor of which, and
near a hundred men of his party, were
maflacred by the people. The city of Te-
tuan, and its environs, followed the exam-
ple ; the governor was obliged to fly, and
the furious people deftroyed his houfe,
his gardens, and fubje&ed the city to all
the horrors pf a civil war.

Muley Achmet, funken in brutal intox-
ication, was incapable of yielding any re-
medy to fuch diforders, of which the people
round him even kept him in igorance. So
cruel was this emperor, when he was
ibber, that his attendants and wives had
no other means of fafety than that of
making him drunk. The governor of Me-
quinez, on whom he principally depended

for

E 234 ]

for the administration of affairs, only ren-
dered his matter the more odious by his own
negligence. Indolence and neglecl per-
vaded the court. The debauched life of
the king, the contempt in which his inac-
tive government was held, and the mur-
murs of the people, rendered difcontent fo
univerfal that it ended in revolt,

The provinces of the fouth were the
firft that reared the ftandard of rebellion,
Muley Abdelmeleck, who had gained the
hearts of the people, finding himfelf at
the head of a powerful army between Suz
and Morocco, was, of all thofe who afpired
to empire, he who feemed to have the bed
founded claims ; but he was guilty of an
error, which became an obftacle to his
good fortune and future elevation, In or-
der to flatter his own army, compofed of
the inhabitants of the mountains and vo-
lunteers, who held the Negroes in abhor-
rence, this prince declared, that, mould he
ever arrive at empire, he would maintain
no negro troops.

A decla«

C 235 J

A declaration like this, which was ex*
ceedingly impolitic at fuch a moment,
ivhen the Negroes, accuftomed to war, were
in pofleffion of all power, w^as for a time
exceedingly favourable to the party of Mu-
ley Achmet, whofe authority thefe fame
Negroes, profcribed by Abdelmeleck, faw
themielves neceffitated to maintain. The
latter was not long before he felt the ef-
fects of his indifcretion, and the refent-
ment of thefe troops. Morocco was al-
ready in his power ; after having gained, a
battle, the provinces of the louth were in
his intereft, as were the cities of Fez and
Tetuan in the north, infomuch that he
was almoft mafter of the empire ; but,
having been defeated by the Negroes,
whom he had provoked, he was obliged to
abandon Morocco, and retreat, after having
received three wounds, which occafioned
the report of his death to be fpread.

Having fuftained fome attacks from the
forces of Muley Achmet Daiby, the city
of Fez made peace with this ^prince, and
acknowledged him Emperor. Muley Ab-
delmeleck made a proportion to lay down

his

t 236 ]

his arms, if his brother would cede him
the half of the empire ; and Muley Ach-
met was himfelf inclined to acquiefce,
that he might have nothing farther to do,
but drink and deep. His minifters, how-
ever, his courtiers, and particularly his
troops, who had great influence in thefe
deliberations, firmly oppofed any fuch di-
ylfion.

The diflike of the people to Muley
Achmet continued the fame, after he was
thus recalled to empire, for his manner of
life underwent no alteration. Totally
negleftful of government, he knew not of
thofe troubles which were incited in his
provinces. His days were wholly fpent in
drinking, and his debauches were carried
to fuch excefs, that, to conceal them, from
the public, was no longer poffible. Going
one Friday to the mofque to prayer, he was
fo drunk, that, when he proftrated himfelf,
according to the cuftom of the Mahome-
tans, he vomited up his wine ; an inde-
cency which was every where rumoured,
and every where gave offence.

When

[ m ]

When he was brought back to his pa-
lace he treated his wives with excemve
cruelty, becaufe they made him fome re-
monftrances, till, impatient at fuffering his
violence, they left the place, and uttered
their clamors aloud, in the ftreets, againft
the indolence and dimmulation of his mi-
nifters, and the commanders of his forces,
who had no refpect whatever for religion.
So general was the difcontent, that the fol-
diers themfelves, prejudiced as they were
againft Abdelmeleck, joined the natives,
and Abdelmeleck was once more pro-
claimed.

This proclamarion made, which hap-
pened in the month of March, 1728, the
principal Alcaides, affembled at Mequinez*
fent deputies to Abdelmeleck, preffing him
to haften his arrival. Kis fon, who was
at that time in Mequinez, was appointed
regent, in expectation of the coming of
his father; and the young prince, by fome
well-timed gifts, very prudently fmothered
thofe difcontents which the party of Mil-
ley Achmet at firft teftified, in confequence
of this election.

Muley

t 238 1

Muley Abdelmeleck arrived at Me-
quilled, and made his public entry on the
iota of Aprih In the barbarity of his
religious zeal, it was his intention to have
put out the eyes of his brother, but he fa?
tisfied himfelf with baniihing him to Ta-
filet, remonftraiices having been made to
him that, Muley Achmet having been
found unworthy of the throne only in
conlequence of his debauchery and indo-
lent conduct, he did not merit any other
chafiiferrient than that of being depofed*

After this firft aft, Abdelmeleck^
auftere, arrogant, and choleric, began to
treat his minifters, and the Moors in ge-
neral, with fo much feverity, haughtinefs,
and contempt, that he univerfally alienated
the minds of his fubjefts. Scarcely had
he reigned three months before the Ne^
groes, recollecting the declaration which
Abdelmeleck had publicly made concern-
ing them, formed a party, and fent a de-
tachment to Tafil'et to folicit pardon of
Muley Achmet Daiby, and to invite him
once more to put himfelf at their head, and
affume the reins of government.

Attended

[ n9 ]

Attended by fome troops in addition to
the Negroes, the Emperor began his march,
and prefently found himfelf at the head of
eighty thoufand men* Abdelmeleck, who,
by the excefs of his pride, had deprived
himfelf of partifans, was obliged to fhut
himfelf up in Mequinez, where he was be-
fieged, and the city, taken by aflault, was
expofed to pillage, and every horror which
vengeance and barbarity could infpire.

During the confufion, Muley Abdelme-
leck efcaped to the city of Fez, where he
was again befieged. Unable to take this
city by ftorm, Muley Achmet refolved
on a blockade, and, as there were not fuffi-
cient provifions in Fez to fuftain a fiege,
the inhabitants, at the end of three
months, determined to capitulate. The
fole condition which the Emperor exacted
from them was, to yield up his brother.
Abdelmeleck was accordingly delivered
over to the conqueror, who, for a moment,
diflembling the ferocity of his % character,
thought proper to fend him, under a
ftrong guard, to Mequinez, where he

fome-

[ *4° ]

fbmetimc after commanded him to be
ftrangled*

Muley Abdelmeleck had been executed
but a few days before Muley Achmet
Daiby himfelf died, in March, 1729, of an
incurable dropfy. Such was the end of a
prince, become brutal by indolence and in-
temperance, and who, defpifed by his fub-
jefts, never was capable of making his
power refpedted.

CHAP-

[ 24i ]

CHAP. VI.

AcceJJion of Muley Abdallah, his cruelties ;
power of the Negroes , their Infatlable avi-
dity, and confequent revolutions. Muley
Abdallah a fixth time proclaimed 'Em-
peror ; the negro troops enfeebled, and the
power of the Emperor rendered more
jlable. Character of Muley Abdallah,
his depravity , vices, and intolerable barba-
rities.

AFTER the death of Muley Achmet
Daiby, the fceptre, which the army dif-
pofed of at will, was frequently removed
from prince to prince ; and the empire of
Morocco, which, in its birth, had fo often
been the prey of fanaticifm, was now zty
the mercy of the negro foldiers. Muley
BoofFer, the fon of Muley Achmet, who
Vol. II. R was

[ 24-2 ]

was the immediate heir to the throne, firft
prefented himfelf as his father's fucceffor ;
but his party was not fufficiently powerful.
Lena Coneta, the mother of Muley Ab-
dallah, an artful and intelligent princefs,
knew fo well how to gain the minds of
the people, and treated the Negroes with
fo much generality, that her fon was by
her means proclaimed.

Muley Abdallah, though, perhaps, as
capricious as, and not lefs cruel than, his
father, Muley Ifhmael, was generous even
to excefs. Six times depofed, and fix times
remounting the throne, in the commence-
ment of his reign he was the fport of for-
tune, the victim of his people's ficklenefs,
and the avarice of his foldiers. Muley
Booffer, his nephew, contefted with him for
empire ; but Booffer' s fole refources were in
a Marabout, held in veneration by fome fol-
lowers, whom the fpirit of fanaticifm had
affembled ; his faction therefore was foon
defeated and difperfed by the Negroes, and
he was himfelf taken, as was the Ma-
rabout, who had become his counsellor,
protector, and guide.

Muley

[ 243 ]

Muley Abdallah pardoned his nephew,
and granted him his liberty ; but, regard-
lefs of the prejudices of the Moors, he
commanded the Marabout to be beheaded,
and treated him as an impoftor ; for, faid
he, had this Marabout been really a Saint,
the fabre that (truck at him would have
been edgelefs.

Muley Abdallah afterward marched
againfr. Fez, which had declared in favour
of Muley Booffer, and laid fiege to the
city. It fuftained a blockade of fix months
before it furrendered; and, irritated at the
obftinacy of the inhabitants, the Emperor
intended to have deftroyed and wholly
erafed its foundations. Remonftrances,
however, were made to him, that it had
been built by a defcendant of Mahomet,
and a founder of the empire, and that he
would expofe himfelf, by iuch profanation,
to the wrath of Heaven, and the hatred of
the people.

The little religion Muley Abdallah de-
monftrated, in thus manifeiting his inten-
tion to deftroy a city coniec rated by the
R 2 Moor.

[ 244 ]

Moors to devotion j and the violent and fati=
guinary character his a&ions already had
announced* fo alienated the minds of
men that there were indications of fedi-
tion m various provinces of the em-
pire ; the Brebes of the mountains of
Tedla were the fir ft who took up arms.
Prompt and vindicative, Muley Abdallah
haftily affembled fome native Moors to
march and reduce thefe mountaineers,
without reflecting that he endangered his
own glory, and difgufted his other troops
by fo ill-judged a feleclion.

Having attacked the mountaineers at the
head of twenty- five thoufand men, the
Emperor loft the half of his army in the
battle, and returned to Mequinez to wreak
his vengeance, and add to the (harne of his
defeat, by odious exhibitions of barbarity*
A multitude of the inhabitants were put to
death on the flighteft pretext, himfelf aiding
the murderers. Defirous of ihewing him the
deteftable abfurdity and inhumanity of fuch
actions, his mother remonftrated, and he re-
plied — " My fubjects have no other right to
ci their lives than that which I think pro-
I " per

C M5 ]

# per to leave them, nor have I any other
M pleafure io great as that of killing them
" rriyfelf." More abominable in cruelty
than even his predeceffors were, this Em-
peror ieemed anxious to add to the infamy
of his hereditary ferocity.

The tragical barbarities of Muley Ab-
dallah occafioned the tribes of the moun-
tains of Tedla to revolt ; and, proud of the
advantage they had already gained againft
the monarch, they drew over the neigh-
bouring provinces to their party. Grown
sprudent by experience, and liftening to the
advice of his mother, the Emperor engaged
the Negroes to take part in his meditated
vengeance, and, by fome acls of liberality,
induced them to forget the neglect with
which they had been treated. He now
marched at the head of thirty thoufand
new-raifed troops, who were followed by
as many Negoes. In July, 1 730, he ar-
rived among the mountains of Tedla, and
proceeded through a country full of bram-
bles and underwood. Unfortunately thefe
took fire near his camp, and he loft many
men, horfes, and camels, with all his pro-
R 3 vitions,

[ 246 ]

vifions, and was himfelf in danger. The
fuperftitious foldiers coniidered this acci-
dent as an evil prognoftic, and the Negroes,
who had teftified fome indications of in-
conftancy, were difgufted. Muley Abdal-
lah, however, prevented them from aban-
doning him, by promifing them three hun-
dred thoufand ducats (or upward of eighty
thoufand pounds fterling) at the end of
the campaign.

The army having received a new fupply
of proviiions, it once more began its march,
in two columns, each at fome diftance from
the other, thereby to furround the infur-
gents. The Emperor who commanded the
van attacked them with the greateft va-
lour ; and the Negroes, who followed, fe-
conded this attack fo effe&ually that the
rebels were cut off, and their country to-
tally ravaged. The troops of Muley Ab-
dallah took a vaft number of horles, ca-
mels, herds, and flocks, contenting them-
felves with killing the fheep, that they
might carry off the wool. The very wo-
men and children were ftripped of their
clothing, and turned naked into the coun-
try;

[ 247 ]

try ; but the Emperor gave them where-
with to cover their nakednefs ; and this
was the firft act of humanity he had ever
been known to perform.

Muley Abdallah paffed the remainder of
the campaign in the province of Flea,
where his troops were indulged in repoie,
and whence he fent a detachment into that
of Dara. His arms here were unfuccefsful ;
the commander, who had been fent on this
expedition, brought back to Mequinez, to
which place the king had returned, not
more than the tenth part of the forces,
with which he had been entrufted ; he
had fought with equal prudence and va-
lour, and was vanquished, becaufe over-
powered by numbers.

Muley Abdallah bafely put this general
to death, together with the foldiers who
had returned with him, and not only pre-
fided himfelf awitnefsof, but was the chief
executioner at, this fcene of blood. Per-
ceiving that thofe who put thefe wretches
to death performed their talk ill, he took
the fabre himfelf, to mew them the manner
R 4 in

[ 24* J

in which it ought to be ufed. Thus pe^
rimed, by the hand of a vile executioner,
called an Emperor, men who, in any other
country, would have met the rewards due
to their fervices.

To keep his fubjecls bufy, and not give
them time to reflect on his barbarities,
Muley Abdailah built new fortifications
and new walls at Mequinez, to fecure it
from the incurfions of the Brebes. The
inhabitants, be their rank or condition
what it would, were all obliged to affift at
railing thefe walls. At the conclufion of
the year 1732, he left this work to march
againft the mountaineers of the environs
of Tetuan, who gave tokens of infurrec-
tion, and who, intrenched among their
mountains and precipices, firmly waited
his approach 9 without even defending the
paffes. Having imprudently entangled
himfelf in a defile with thirty thou land
men, the Brebes fuddenly appeared on the
Jieights, and attacked the army of the Em-
peror with fo much fuccefs that it was put
to the rout, and Muley Abdailah could with
difficulty fecure himfelf and a few foldiers,

leaving

[ 249 ]

leaving his baggage the prey of the vic-
tors.

The fpirit of infurre&ion having fpread
itfelf almoft throughout the whole empire,
Muley Abdallah paffed the following year
in the province of Tafilet, there to quell
a revolt. The iucceis of this campaign
was by no means profperous ; the Em-
peror wanted not intrepidity, but was un-
skilful and imprudent ; and, having ramly
attacked the rebels before he had been
joined by his whole army, he was van*
quimed, and obliged to retreat. As the
remainder of his forces advanced to join
his army, he caufed their officers to be
t feized, 2nd commanded them to be drag-
ged by mules along the road, that he might
revenge upon them the diigrace of his own
imprudence and defeat.

The mother of Muley Abdallah, per-
ceiving fhe had loft all influence over the
mind of her fon, and feeing^ herfelf ex-
pofed to his contempt, unwilling longer to
be a witnefs of his blood- thirfty acts, aiked
permiffion to quit the court, and go on pil-
grimage

[ 2S° ]

grimage to Mecca. The Emperor, on her
return, teftified little affection for this
princefs, nor did he fulfil thofe duties pre-
ferred by propriety and cuftom, after a
journey confecrated to religion. His mo-
ther, however, (hewed much tendernefs
for him, and prefented him with four
beautiful (laves whom (he had bought,
hoping, by their means, to infpire him
with the love of women, and extirpate an
unnatural paffion, to which this depraved
wretch had addicted himfelf. This wor-
thy mother continued to give her fon ad-
vice, concerning his government ; but,
deaf to her counfels, and liitening only
to his own impetuoiity and caprice, he
wholly loft the affection of his fubjects.

That he might the more eafily fubjugate
the Negroes, who, in confequence of his
diffipation, had become intractable, and
whofe avarice and ficklenefs he dreaded,
Muley Abdallah formed the project of cut-
ting off their general, and thofe among
their officers who molt influenced the refo-
lutions of this foldiery. The fecret, how-
ever, having been difcovered by the inter-
ception

[ H* ]

ception of letters, the negro corps, ever in
arms, and confcious of its own power,
rendered the project of Muley Abdallah
abortive, by publicly depofing him, on the
29th of September, 1 734 ; and Muley
Ali, one ©f his brothers, was elected in his
ftead.

Being informed of what were the inten-
tions of thefe troops, Muley Abdallah fent
them three hundred thoufand ducats, hoping
thereby to appeafe them ; but the Negroes
received the money in part of payment of
what had been promifed, and no way
changed their determination. The Em-
peror then, as a laft expedient, fhut himfelf
up in Mequinez, there to defend himfelf;
but, after having made his preparations, he
fled among the mountains, accompanied by
fix hundred horiemen, and left his mother,
his wives, and children, to the mercy of his
enemies.

From Mequinez to Tarudant, Muley
Abdallah vifited all the mountains, among
the'inhabitants of which the Negroes were
held in averfion, and by this means railed

himfelf

I 252 1

himfelf a party. Had he been fufceptibld
of reflection and prudence, he might have
re-eftablifhed his power ; but, equally im-
petuous in profperity and adverfity, he con-
tinually acted with violence : the very
tribes that had teftified their attachment to
him foon felt the caprices of his character,
and cruelty • he, with ^his own hands, ill-
treating and killing thofe among them who
came to make him remonstrances : fo that,
at length, he was detefted and execrated by
all the provinces, which no longer would
intereft themfelves in his behalf.

Muley All, who was atTafilet when he
was called to empire, arrived at Mequinez,
in October 1735. The firft of his cares,
after his entrance, was to inform himfelf
concerning the ftate of the treafury, which
he knew had been left rich by his brother,
Muley Achmet Daiby. Seeing it reduced to
a very trifle, he, avaricious and barbarous like
his predeceffors, indulged his ferocity ; and
the mother of Muley Abdallah, beholding
one of her own female attendants affaffi-
nated in her arms, and fearing herfelf to
fall the victim of his fury, gave him fome

in for-

[ 2S3 ]

information concerning a part that had
been concealed, but which, however, was of
fmall value.

Anxious to preferve a crown, for which
he was indebted to the preponderating
power of the Negroes, this prince diftri-
buted among them all the money that re-
mained in the treafury ; and, without
forefeeing the confequences, further pro-
mifed them, as foon as he fhould be able
to pay it, the fum of two hundred thou-
fand ducats, or between fifty and fixty
thoufand pounds fterling. Hitherto the
cities of Fez and Mequinez, and their de-
pendencies only, were under the obedience
of Muley Ali ; the remainder of the em-
pire was to be acquired by the valour of the
Negroes.

Their general* the fame whom Abdallah
intended to have cut off, went, at the head
of thirty thoufand men, to befiege Mo-
rocco, took it by aflault, put the garrifon
to the fword, and gave up the city to be
pillaged by his foldiers. Actuated by re-
fentment, this general propoied to march

and

[ *54- 3

and give battle to Muley Abdallah him-
felf; but, perceiving indications of irrefo-
lution among his troops, that had fo often
experienced the capricious generofity of
this Emperor, he was determined to march
with his army into the province of Beni-
Haflen, whence it carried off the flocks
and herds, and ravaged the environs of Sal-
lee ; which place refufed to open its gates.

However high the refentment of the
Negroes might be againit Muley Abdallah,
ftill their defire of money foon made them
forget his cruelties, recolle&ing only the
profufion of his gifts. Muley Ali was
poor, and this to them was a feeble recom-
mendation; their general, who was in the
interefts of the latter, infenfibly loft the
confidence of his foldiers. Influenced by
their own avidity, and the intrigues of the
mother of Muley Abdallah, who promifed
each man thirty ducats if they would pro-
claim the Emperor once more, they, in
May, 1736, depofed Muley Ali, who had
for fome time pad ftupified himfelf by the
immoderate ufe of the Achicha, which had

benum-

[ 255 ]
benumbed his powers of body and
mind*.

Informed of the reftoration of Muley
Abdallah, Muley Ali retreated in his turn
among the neighbouring mountains of
Tremecen, accompanied by his family, and
only fome forty men, who refolved to
follow his fortunes.

A fecond time called to the throne,
Muley Abdallah received at Teza, where
he then was, a deputation of the officers
of the Negroes, at the head of two thou-
fand men, to announce the revolution, and
efcort him to Mequinez. Although the
Emperor treated this deputation with de-
monftrations of gratitude, he flill refufed
to return to Mequinez, unlefs the Negroes
would deliver up their general, Selim Doo-

* This plant greatly refembles hemp, and, mixed with
other drugs, produces the fame kind of intoxication as
opium. Some of the Moors take it continually ; it infpires
them with agreeable reveries, and, though exceffively heat-
ing, it benumbs the fenfes. In fome conflitutions, it renders
thofe who take it furious.

quelli ;

[ 256 ]

quelll ; and he then promifed to recdrri-
penfe them by a gift of four hundred
thoufand ducats, (or upward of a hun-
dred thoufand pound fterling) which he
had concealed*

Covetous as they were of money, yet
the delivering up of their general was re-
pugnant to the Negroes ; befide, they per-
ceived that the plan of Muley Abdallah
was to weaken their power* and no longer
to remain dependent on the influence
they had acquired in the election of Em-
peror. Selim Dooquelli^ an artful man,
and beloved by the foldiers^ was fo power-
ful in perfuading them that they did not
hefitate once more to renounce their elec-
tion of Muley Abdallah, and to proclaim
Muley Mahomet, Ool Del Ariba*. The
general expedited a courier to the latter at
Tafilet, and fent him a detachment to
efcort him to Mequinez. Thus was Mu-
ley Abdallah, by his imprudence, depofed

* That is to fay, the fon of the Ariba, which was the
family name of the queen, his mother.

either

[ 257 ]

either the fame, or nearly the fame day,
on which he was once more ele&ed.

This precipitate proceeding, notwith-
ftanding, gave birth to quarrels among the
foldiers, who were not all of the fame
opinion. They took to their arms, the
party of Muley Abdallah became victorious,
and he was a third time proclaimed be-
fore the arrival of Muley Mahomet. The
latter, being then on the road, found him-
felf obliged to flop at Old Fez, where he
was received and treated as Emperor.
Sovereignty, in times fo perilous, was a
very precarious and temporary poffeffion,
which depended entirely on the moment
and its accidents, on the charafter of the
commanders and the caprices of the fol-
diery.

The officers of the Negroes, having re-
initiated Muley Abdallah on the throne,
interefted themfelves in behalf of their
general, and obtained a promife of pardon.
by the mediation of the Emperor's mo-
ther. Selim Dooquelli, who had taken

Vol. II. S refuge

[ *5s 1

refuge in an afylum, left this hofpitium
oil the word of the Emperor ; but he ih*
formed his foldiers of the fear he had, that
he mould become f? the victim of the de-
" ceit of this fubtle and fanguinary fox,
" who, faid he to them, only willies to de-
" prive you of your chief, that he may
" deitroy you with the greater facility."

His fears and forbodings were juftihed
by the event. Having been conducted to
Teza, covered by the cloth of the Sanc-
tuary, to which he had fled, he proftrated
himfelf before Muley Abdallah ;■ the Em-
peror kiffed the holy cloth, that far paying
refpedt to cuflom, and ordered it to be taken
from the general, but, regardlefs of the
afylum of religion, or his pledged faith, bu-
ried his lance in his body, and called for a
cup that he might drink his blood. He af-
terward cut off the perfons attached to
this general, and even his children, whom
he cauicd to be Strangled in his prefence.

This thirft of blood, this difrefpeft of
his word, and of the prejudices of the na-
tion, incited general indignation againft
I Muley

[ 259 ]

Muley Abdallah. Not only is the fanftu-
aries of their Saints confidered, among the
Moors, as a certain afylum, which guards
the culprit againft the firft efforts of au-
thority, and yields him the means of jufti-
fying himfelf, but a like refpect is alfo
paid to the very habit of the faint, to whom
any fuch holpitium is con fee rafted. To
acT: contrary to this cuftom, to treat the
public opinion with contempt, and thus to
violate the facred rights of the holy place
of refuge, was to deprive the nation of all
protection from the power of defpotifm;
yet Muley Abdallah, acknowledging no
other rule than his arbitrary will, took a
pleafure in contemning thefe hofpitiums
and their Marabouts, for which and whom
the Moors have fo much veneration. De-
firous of preventing the refentment which
his ill faith muft infpire among the Ne-
groes, the Emperor departed from Teza
for Mequinez, under the pretext of pay-
ing them the four hundred thoufand du-
cats which they had been promifed. In
order to gain time, and the better to de-
ceive the fbldiers, he commanded the earth
to be dug up, in certain places which he

S 2 defcribed

[ 26o ]

defcribed, and affe&ed the utmoft* afto-
nifhment when ho money was found.
Having, neverthelefsj promifed to pay the
Negroes before he made his entrance into
Mequinez, and being arrived there with-
out the power of fulfilling his promife,
Muley Abdallah knew not how to acl.
The fum of four hundred thoufand du-
cats, and the gratification which had
been before ftipulated with his mother,
amounted to near two millions of ducats ;
all the money he had poflefled had before
been difperfed, and he was obliged to fell
his arms, his horfes, and jewels ; but,
though this facrifice proved his defire to
pay, it did not produce the quarter of the
fum he had promifed.

Never had Muley Abdallah more need
of circumfpedtion, and refource in his
own underftanding, than at this inftant.
Secretly detefted by his foldiers, wrho were
enamoured only of his prodigality, he had
the more to dread from their inconftancy
becaufe that he was at no great diftance
from Muley Mahomet, and to whom only
he had been preferred in the hope of re-
ward*

[ *6i ]

ward. The Emperor once more entered
into treaty with the Negroes, and promifed
to pay them in the fpace of two months,
while thefe foldiers, on their part, deter-
mined to remain neuter during that in-
terval, and neither intereft themfelves in
his behalf nor in behalf of Muley Ma-
homet, who was fhut up in Fez.

Thus we behold a defpotic fove reign
capitulating with his foldiers ; yet, being
themfelves the inftruments of defpotifm, it
is no wife aftonifhing to fee them fome-
times thus acYing as arbitrators.

This refolution of the Negroes deter-
mined Muley Abdallah to lay fiege to Fez,
accompanied by the Brebes of his party.
The city made a moll vigorous refinance,
and the fallies of Muley Mahomet were
fo fuccefsful that the Brebes, wearied and
and difheartened, determined to raife the
liege.

The two months, which the Negroes
had granted to Muley Abdallah, being ex-
pired, they fent to demand their money,

S 3 as

[ 262 ]

as a creditor fends to demand a debt*
The Emperor made excufes, pleaded pre-
fent circumflances, and once more paid
them with promifes. The Negroes, whom
money alone might render tradable, now
recollected all the vices of Muley Abdal-
iah, his cruelties, his ill faith, and hatred
to them ; nor couicl tKey find any being
fo odious as this Emperor, when he no
longer had any thing to give.

£PBe murmurs of this turbulent body,
whoie refentihtftft and ferocity were
dreaded by Muley Abdaliah, determined
him to efcape with what he could colled:
mofT precious, and retire among the moun-
tains, accompanied by his mother, his
fon, and a few foldiers. Aftoniihed at the
flight of the Emperor, and irrefolute them-
felves concerning rae manner in which
they ought to acl, the Negroes, in October
1736, once more named Muley Mahomet
Ool Del Ariba, at the foiicitations of the
deputies of Fez, who engaged to pay, in
behalf of this prince, the four hundred
thoufand ducats, which had been promiied
them by Muley Abdaliah.

Muley

[ &3 ]

Muley Mahomet, dreading his brother as
a rival, and the ficklenefs of the ioldiery,
fent an army, againft Muley Abdailah,
amoiis; the mountains in which he had
taken refuge ; but ibis army dared not to
attack the Brebes in their faunefies, and
was impelled to retreat. After railing a
more numerous army, Muley Mahomet
marched thither hi perfon, but with no
better fuccefs ; his cavalry being incapable
of acting, among mountains and precipices,
he was obliged to renounce his enterprize,
and to content himfelf with rava^mjr the
country, and deftroying iome caifles in the
environs. His army, having afterward
been attacked by the Brebes in a defile, was
beaten, and thrown into diforder. Muley
Mahomet was himfelf wounded in the
arm, and in danger of being taken, having
fought perfonally, and with great valour.

After thefe acts of hoftility, the Negroes,
ranch more occupied concerning their own
interefts than the maintenance of the fove-
reign power, began to make remonftrances
concerning the four hundred thouhmd
ducats, which the denudes of Fez had
S 4. under-

[ 264 ]

undertaken to pay ; the latter having eluded
the payment of this fum, the foldiers no
longer could diffemble their refentment.
Thefe reftlefs and avaricious troops indi-
cated fo much indifference concerning
Muley Mahomet, that this prince, who was
mild, juft, and the enemy of tyranny, was
on the eve of laying down his authority
voluntarily, that he might no longer fub-
jedl: himfelf to t;he phantaftes of thefe
forces*. The Negroes, perceiving the fo-
vereign they had chofen poffefled not that
fpirit of vexation which alone might gra-
tify their rapacity, fuddenly ftripped him,
of the authority they had beftowed, and,
in 1738, named his brother, Muley Zin
Lahabdin, as his fucceffor.

The reign of Muley Zin was but mo-
mentary. Muley Abdallah, who had gone

* This prince has been dead about ten years ; he lived
like a private man near Mequinez, where I had the ho-
nour of being acquainted with him and his fons. Like
the princes of the Arabs, they fupported themfelves on the
revenues of their lands, flocks, and herds. They were very
polite, and exceedingly affable in fociety.

toward

[ *«5 1

toward Morocco, where he had made him-
felf a powerful party, was a fourth time
proclaimed Emperor by the provinces of
the South, that had taken arms to coun-
teract the power of the Negroes, Made
wife by the viciffitudes of fortune, to
which he had been expofed by his own
vices and diffipations, and by the avidity
and inconstancy of his troops, the Em-
peror felt the neceffity of weakening thefe
infolent Negroes, who difpofed of empire at
their pleafure.

He long remained encamped under
Mount Atlas with an army of Brebes, fup-
pofing that the Negroes would march to
attack him, and intending there to give
them battle : but, finding this project did
not fucceed, he began his march for Me-
quinez, where, on his arrival, his election
was confirmed. The Negroes had con-
fented to this, becaufe they perceived no
better means of acting ; they, neverthelefs,
did not behold with pleafure a monarch on
the throne, who, prodigal as he had been
in his gifts, had yet fo often deceived them,
and who, contrary to the faith of promifes

pledged,

[ 266 ]

pledged, had facrificed their general and
principal chiefs to his policy and his ven-
geance ; but they were obliged to diffemble
their difcontent.

As the avarice of thefe troops favoured
the intrigues of all thofe who afpired to fo~
vereign power, the fecret diffatisfaftion of
the Negroes foon found an opportunity of
making itfelf manifei'L The mother of Mu-
Icy Muftadi, who .clandeitinery negotiated
with their general, fo well fucceeaed that
fhe difpofed them to favour her fon, who,
in 1740, was proclaimed Emperor, and
Muley Abdallah was once more obliged to
retire among the mountains. Such and fo
inceflant were thefe revolutions ; for, as they
depended on the cupidity and inconftancy
of an armed mob, the'e raifed up Empe-
rors and pulled them down, almoft in the
lame moment.

Muley Muftadi, unwilling to depend on
the caprice of his foidiers, thought he
acred wifely in uniting himfelf with the
province of Beni-Hafien, and with the
Bafhaw of Tangiers, who governed that

of

[ *«7 ]

of Garb. This alliance, by which a
union was again effected between all the
north of the empire, inlpired the troops
with jealoufy ; and, that they might not
give Muley Muftadi time fufficient to
itrengthen his party, they once more re-
called Muley Abdallah.

Muley Muftadi, however, was not de-
pofed with the fame eafe as his predecef-
fors had been. Each party maintained and
defended his election by the force of arm's.
Various actions happened between the two
armies, and many fell on both fides, rit
length, Muley Abdallah, fupported by the
Negroes, the Ludaya, and the mofr war-
like tribes, was victorious over the factions
of the two provinces, which, powerful as
they were, t ould not withstand an army
compofed of foldiers inured to war. Mu-
ley Muftadi, on his part, without wholly
renouncing empire, thought proper to re-
tire to Arzilla, where he carried on a con-
iiderable commerce in grain with the Spa-
niards.

The

[ 263 ]

The empire at this time was, for a
iriort fpace, divided between Muley Muf-
tadi and Muley Abdallah ; the latter, de-
firous of obliging his brother wholly to
abdicate the throne, marched with an
army to poffefs himfelf of Tangiers, and
to cut off the Bafhaw, Achmet Ben Ali,
who was governer of the city, and who
fuftained Muley Muftadi, by his credit, his
money, and his troops. The Bafhaw hav-
ing been killed in battle, the city was
taken, and his palace was pillaged ; but
his fon, Mahomet Ben Achmet, had time
to efcape to Gibraltar, whither he carried
all his wealth,

Muley Muftadi profited by this momen-
tary diverfion to go and ravage the en-
virons of Fez. On his return from this
expedition, he was attacked near Alcaffar by
Muley Abdallah, and, having been deferted
in the battle by a part of his forces, he
found himfelf obliged to retreat to Sallee,
where, notwithftanding his defeat, he was
received and acknowledged Emperor,

The

[ *h 1

The town of Rabat, which is only fe-
parated from Sallee by a river, having re-
fufed to own his authority, a civil war arofe
between the two places, which long conti-
nued, and which was equally ruinous to
both by the facility they mutually had to
injure each other. Sallee and Rabat, hav-
ing become feudatory towns of the empire,
under Muley Immael, formed at that time
a kind of republic, under a municipal go-
vernment : reftored to the monarchy, they
might, by their wealth, and the character
of their inhabitants, favour the factions
that diftracfced the empire.

Muley Muftadi, for fourteen months,
befieged Rabat ; but, finding himfelf un-
able to take the place, he retired to Tedla,
where he was arretted and put in chains
by the Brebes, of the party of Muley Ab-
dallah. The Erebes of the cafile of Oor-
dega carried him off in the night, and
tranfported him into the hofpitium of
Sidi El Mat:, a i acred afylum, the faints
of which family had inherited the venera-
ration of the people. Sidi El Mati efcorted
Muley Muftadi to Sallee, where the Ba-
2 fiiaw,

f 27° I
fhaw, Fenis, received him with fo much
the more eagernels inafmuch as that town,
devoted to this prince, was totally averfe to
Mil ley Abdallah.

Muley Muftadi, however, finding that
he was incapable of refilling the faction
of the Negroes, or of reftoring tranquillity
to an empire ever in revolt, renounced the
throne, and once more went to Arzilla,
where he lived like a private perfon, and
continued to trade with Europe*

Muley Abdallah thus, at length, was for
the fixth time, mailer of the empire, and
the Negroes, enfeebled by fo many divi-
fions, became lefs infolent in proportion as
there were fewer candidates for fove reign
power ; be(ide, it was no longer poffible to
let up the crown to the beft bidder, or to
gratify the avarice of the foldiers, becaufe
of the exhausted ft ate of the treafury, and
of the difficulty with which contributions
might any longer be raifed in the pro-
vinces, which had been entirely laid defo-
late by fuch a fucceffion of revolutions.

Become

[ *p ]

Become more prudent and circumfpect
by experience, and full of relentm at
againft the Negroes, the i n con ft an y of
whom he had fo often experienced, Muley
Abdallah determined to fupprefs this auda-
cious ioldiery, from whofe aid he had nor-
thing more to hope, and from whofe irifo-
lence he had every thing to fear. He art-
fully took every occalion to involve the
Negroes in quarrels with the moun-
taineers, and, by his fecret intrigues, en-
deavoured to render them odious to all the
provinces. Under the pretence of forced
contributions, the amount of which he
was to receive, he often fet the Negroes at
variance with the Brebes, by whom they
were held in abhorrence ; keeping up a
correspondence with thefe mountaineers,
the Emperor himfelf would fend faithful
troops, that the Negroes might be put be-
tween two fires, and thus {acriiiced to the
public hatred, his private vengeance, and his
future repofe. By fuch acls of barbarous
policy, which had, in forne fort, become
neceffary, in confequence of the avarice,
ficklenefs, and preponderance of the Ne-
groes, thefe turbulent forces, that had fo

often

[ 272 ]

often put up the empire at auction, loft
that afcendancy they had acquired*

The Negroes being thus reduced, the
Emperor recovered his power, and the em-
pire a part of its tranquillity. Muley Ab-
dallah was firmly eftablifhed on the throne,
and remained thus in peaceable pofleflion
till his death. Yet did not all the varieties
of fortune he had felt make any change
in the manners of this Moor ; he ftill pre-
served the fanguinary and cruel character
he from the firft had teftified, and ftill in-
fpired no other fentiments than thofe of
fear and terror. Ingenious in refining on
barbarity, not a week paffed, perhaps not a
day, that did not behold fome one immo-
lated to his choler, or his caprice.

It mud, notwithstanding, be acknow-
ledged that, cruel and frantic as were the
acts which diigraced his reign, he ftill gave
tokens of fome principles of equity and
diiintereftednefs, which, though they can-
not excufe, fecm, in fome degree, to fofteri
his ferocity. When any Moor whatever had
committed a crime, Muley Abdallah cauied

him

[ *73 1
him to be puniihed with the utmoft feve-
rity, without feizing on his wealth. An
Alcaic!, after having been imprifoned and
condemded to death, offered to give him his
riches, which were very confiderable, would
he only grant him his life. " Thy riches,"
anfwered the Emperor, " belong to thy
" children, who are not guilty; but, as
" thou art, it is but juft that thou fhouldeft
" perifh."

Muley Abdallah having, at length, fup-
preffed thofe revolutions, by which his
reign had fo often been disturbed, he al-
ternately made Mequinez and Morocco his
places of relidence, that he might occafion-
ally be prefent at each boundary of his em-
pire, and overawe, with the greater eafe, the
provinces, whofe inconstancy he feared.
He afterward commanded the palace, called
Arbiba, to be built near New Fez, in
which he pafl'ed the latter years of his
life.

Heir to all the caprices and barbarities

of Muley Ifhmael, he neither poffefled his

Vol. II, T prudence

[ m ]

prudence nor his policy. More generous
than his father, and lefs a (lave to the pre-
judices of his religion, he did not refera-
ble him in his difiike of Europeans : he
foon concluded treaties of peace with the
Engliih and the Dutch, who, in the be-
ginning of the prefent century, enjoyed
aimofr. the excluiive commerce of Eu-
rope ; the confidence of foreign powers,
under his reign, was fo far efrabiifhed
that feveral commercial houfes were fettled
at Tetuan, Sallee, Saffi, and Santa Cruz ;
and the merchants, as well as the mips of
nations that were not at peace with the
empire of Morocco, there enjoyed all the
rights and good faith of afylum.

After the example of his father, Muley
Abdallah employed the flaves, whom the
fate of battles gave into the power of his
corfairs, on the public works ; and, though
he treated them with barbarous rigour,
chaftifing and putting them to death on
the flighteft pretence, he ftill held it con-
trary to the principles of humanity to re-
fufe their being redeemed ; many of them
were releak-d under his reign, and thus,

amidfi:

[ 275 ]

amidft the mod exceffive cruelties, did
he feem to be imprefled with fome fen-
timents of humanity and juftice.

The plague, which had laid wafte the
ftates of Morocco, under the reign of Mu-
ley Ifhmael, again committed new ravages
under that of Muley Abdallah, and made
its appearance in 1752, being communi-
cated to the Moors from Algiers and Tunis,
whither it had been brought from Tur-
key *.

It was at the commencement of the
reign of Muley Abdallah, in 1752, that

* The plague was almoft general in Turkey in the year
i 7 5 1, and Constantinople loft a third of its inhabitants.
The ravages of this fcourge of man were, in fome degree,
foretold by the old people, who, feeing the quantity ©f
fnow that fell in the winter of 17^0 and 1 75 1, foreboded,
from experience, that the plague woijld become very fatal.
Their prophecy was juitified by the event, though it had by-
many been regarded as vague and idle. It might happen
that the nitrous particles, with which the air was impreg-
nated, increafed the fermentation of the blood, and ren-
dered the contagion more quick and poifonous. I have
allowed myfelf to write this note, which, perhaps, may
jjgfeferve indulgence from the accurate obfervers of nature.

T 2 the

[ ^ )

the Duke de Riperda, renowned for his
high rank and adventures, pafled over to
the court of Morocco. Born in the pro-
vince of Groningen, and become minifter
of Spain, under Philip V., this Duke, after
his difgrace, was expofed for a time to nu-
merous viciffitudes of fortune. After
efcaping from Segovia, where he was im-
prifoned, he went to England and Hol-
land ; his reftlefs and turbulent temper
made him liften to the inftigations of the
Alcaid, Perez, who, at that time, refided
as ambaflador at the Hague, and turn his
thoughts toward Morocco.

Full of animofity againft the court of
Madrid, the Duke formed the project of
befieging Ceuta, thinking he fhould there-
by involve the court of Morocco in his re-
fen tment. He met a very kind reception
from Muiey Abdallah ; but the ftates of
the Emperor being conftantly a prey to re-
volutions, and he himfelf inconfiftent,
the Duke went to Tetuan, and made
that the place of his refidence.

Here

[ 277 ]

Here he formed various projects to diffi-
pate his wearinefs, and animate the Moors
againft Spain ; but his motives of refent-
ment, and plans of revenge, were wholly
ineffectual at a court which never adted
from any fixed fyftem, and which was it-
felf too much divided to concern itfelf
with foreign interefts. By nature turbu-
lent, the Duke afterward entered into the
projects of Baroti Neuhof, who, under the
name of Theodore, was for a moment kins:
of Corfica.

Defirous of prevailing on the court of
Morocco to unite itfelf with the people of
Tunis, who were difpofed to give aid to
this rifing kingdom, he made many jour-
nies to the court at Mequinez, where, his
plan appeared to be approved ; but he was
amufed only with hopes, in order to obtain
prefents, and his political views were very
little regarded. It is not, however, true
that the Duke de Riperda became a profe-
lyte to Mahometanifm ; nor did he ever
command the armies of Morocco, as fome
writers have affirmed. Some Moors of
the country, who were particularly ac-
T 3 quainted

[. 2?8 ]

quainted with him, have affured me that
he ended his life and romantic adventures
at Tetuan, toward the end of the year
l737> without either changing his drefs
or his religion.

Muley Abdallah having paffed the
greater part of his life in one continued
agitation, never, during the firft years of
his reign, tailing repofe, it may be that
this erratic and troublefome life might con-
tributed the brutal ferocityof his character,
and to that depravation of manners which
made him contemned by his fubjects. His
whole pofterity confifted but of two male
children ; the eldeft having died in the
caftle of Rabat, while heading his father's
party againft Muley Muftadi, there only
remained Sidi Mahomet, the prefent reign-
ing Emperor.

This circumftance prevented the divi-
sions, which always arife on the death of an
Emperor, to obtain the fucceffion ; for, as the
rights of feniority and birth are not fuffici-
ently eftahlifhed to give unequivocal claim,
all the fonscf the late fovereign, anxious to

pofTefs

[ 279 ]

poflefs a crown, form parties ; and the em-
pire becomes the inheritance of him who
is the ftrongeft and moft wealthy,

Sidi Mahomet, defirous of fixing the
public opinion concerning himfelf and ac-
cuftoming the people to obedience, ob-
tained from his father the government of
Saffi, where he paffed a part of his youth.
Several European merchants had fettled in
this city, which, at that time, was the
moft commercial on the whole coaft ; and
this prince, who was exceedingly eafy of
accels, and whofe views were equally to
employ his time agreeably and to gain va-
luable information, frequently converfed
with thefe merchants concerning the cuf-
toms of Europe, the commerce of its na-
tions, their taxes, and their mode of admi-
niftration. At this time it was that Sidi
Mahomet acquired thofe general, vague,
and imperfect ideas, which fince have un-
folded themfelves during the courfe of his
reign, and which have given Europeans an
advantageous opinion of his abilities. Thefe
are, perhaps, held in higher confederation
among foreign nations than in his own
T 4 empire.

[ 28o ]

empire, where, however, the beft judge*
ment may be formed of his principles, by
an actual view of their confequences.

Defirous of fhewing himfelf in the pro-
vinces of the empire, Sidi Mahomet,
while prince, pretended it was neceffary
he mould journey through them, in order
to make the fovereign authority refpec-
table, which authority he infenfibly appro-
priated to himfelf: he traverfed thofe of
Duquella, Tedla, and Temfena, where he
levied many contributions, to his own »
profit, with a high hand. At his return,
his father, who had retired to Fez, en-
trusted him with the government of Mo-
rocco, and there he relided with one of his
coufins, Muley Dris,an enlightened prince,^
who, in the firft advances of Sidi Mahomet
toward empire, aided him by his advice and
abilities.

Of all the princes who had difputed fo-
vereign power with Muley Abdallah, Mu-
ley Muftadi was the only one who, when-
ever his brother mould die, might raife an
mfurrecYion in the provinces of the North.

Sidi

[ iii 1

Sidi. Mahomet, in order to prevent any fuch
attempts, feat him notice to quit Arzilla,
and to go and refide at Fez, where he, a
fhort time after, died.

The better to eftablifh his authority in
the north of the empire, Sidi Mahomet
left Morocco, in 1755, accompanied by an
army, and prefented himfelf, during the
month of Auguft, before Rabat and Sallee,
which places, fince the reign of Muley Kh-
mael, had been governed by a fpecial admi-
nift ration of their own, and formed a kind
of republic. This regency, though feuda-
tory to the empire, appeared to prefcribe
limits to the fovereign authority. The in-
habitants of thefe combined towns, known
by the name of Saletines, or Sallee rovers,
fitted out corfairs at their own expence,
and were in poffeffion of the gains of pi-
racy, and the advantages of commerce,
wThich, by the fituation of thofe towns on
the fea fhore, and the induftry of the peo-
ple, had become confiderable.

The wealth and independence of thefe

two cities afforded motives fufficiently

2 powerful

[ *8z 3

powerful to enflame the ambition of the
prince, covetous as he was of riches, and de-
firous of empire. Sidi Mahomet had further
caufe of enmity againft thefe places, arifing
from the wavering ftate in which they re-
mained during the revolutions that had dis-
turbed the reign of his father. This was
remembered with rancour by the prince,
and thus had the recollection of the wealth
they contained, their independence, and
the part they had taken in behalf of Mu-
Ity Muftadi, long excited his avidity and
his refentment.

Rabat and Sallee, though united by a
confederation, which fituation, mutual
convenience, and contiguity, rendered ne-
ceffary, were, neverthelefs, difturbed by
that fpirit of reftlefihefs fo natural to the
Moors, and by a diverfity of interefts,
which wTere continual and unceafing caufes
of quarrels and diflenfions. On the ap-
proach of Sidi Mahomet, howTever, they
united their forces, and refolved to refufe
entrance to the prince.

Rabat^

[ *«3 J

Rabat, faithful to its engagements, ob-
ftinately defended its walls; but the Ba-
fhaw, Fenis, who commanded at Sallee,
defirous of obtaining the favours of the
prince, and by his fubmiffion of conferring
an obligation on Sidi Mahomet, as he had
before done on Muley Muftadi, repaired, in
company with the principal men of the
city, to the camp of the prince, on the 26th
of Auguft, there to fupplicate for clemency
and reward. Sidi Mahomet pardoned the
Baihaw, Fenis, and fent him back ex-
ceedingly well fatisfied, but, fome time
after, took an opportunity to effect his de-
ftrucrion, and had him {toned to death ia
his prefence.

After the reduction of the city of Sallee,
that of Rabat, which found a difficulty
of preventing communication by the river,
was alfo obliged to fubmit. Sidi Mahomet
imprifoned the principal perfons in the go-
vernment, behaved to them like a haughty
victor, and obliged them to pay heavy con-
tributions. One of the inhabitants, whofe
name was Mifteri, exceedingly wealthy,
and at the head of the confederals, en-
2 . gaged

[ *»4 ]

gaged to fiipply the place with food himfelf
during a year ; but the brother of this re-
publican betrayed him to the prince, whom
he informed of the ftate of the place.
Mifteri was ftripped of his property, as a
punifhment for his firm refinance ; and his
brother was made governor of Rabat, as
a reward for his treachery.

All the inhabitants of the city were
made to feel the refentment of the
prince. Three merchant's houfes, two
French, one Englifh, and a Spamfh con-
vent, were not excepted. The monks,
who had no property, were made {laves,
and where afterward ranfomed. The
merchants themfelves were not releafed
till each of them had firft paid ten thou-
iand piaftres, and thefe were paid in
effects, which were eftimated at fo low a
price that their ranfom amounted to double
the fum. The Englifh merchant, for
having fold gunpowder to Muley Muftadi,
was treated with ftill greater rigour ; and,
after having been expofed to various humi-
liations and violences, hung himfelf in de-
fpair. The taking of Rabat and Sallee

expofed

[ **5 1

expofed the inhabitants of thefe two pla-
ces to very confiderable impofitions, but
coft none of them their lives, the Bafhaw,
Fenis, alone excepted, who was put to death
fome time afterward, and who was the fole
victim the prince appears to have facrificed
to his refentment. Perhaps this is the only
act of cruelty with which he can be re-
proached ; and, for the commiflion of
which, he has himfelf teftiried his repen-
tance.

By that contradiction which is either
natural to man, to the character of this
prince, or, perhaps, to arbitrary power,
Sidi Mahomet chaftifed Sallee for having
received, and Rabat for not having re-
ceived, Muley Muftadi. He, with greater
reafon, reproached the inhabitants of the
latter place for their conduct toward his
brother, whom they had befieged and al-
moft ftarved to death, in the caftle where
he had (hut himfelf up, when defending the
rights and interests of his father, Muley
Abdallah.

After

[ *S6 ]

After having fubjected the cities of Ra*
bat and Sallee, Sidi Mahomet marched into
the North of the empire,' where he obliged
the Alcaid,. Lucas, Governor of Tetuan,
to render up an account of his adminiftra-
tion. This Alcaid, who had taken advan-
tage of the diftance of the court, and the
feeblenefs of the government, in the latter
part of the reign of Muley Abdallah, to
extend his own authority, was ftripped of
his property and power*

Sidi Mahomet reformed various abufes
during the life of his father, with whom
he almoft divided the empire, till, at laft,
Muley Abdallah, worn out by age, and {till
more by the troubles he had met with
during his reign, died on the 12th of No-
vember, 1757, in his palace at Fez, where
he had only preferved the lhadow of au-
thority.

Expofed as he was himfelf, in the firft
years of his reign, to all the caprices of
fortune, and as his lubjects were to all thofe
of his own temper, this Emperor ftiil had
feme good qualities, which were clouded by

a much

[ 287 3

a much greater number of vices. He pot-
feffed courage, judgment, and generality;
but was violent, fanguinary, and addicled
to drunkennefs, and to a depraved and in-
famous vice, which he made fafhionable
at his court. The ferocity of his cha-
racter feemed to be the confequence of an
atrabilarious constitution, and which dis-
played itfelf periodically, occafioned, per-
haps, by the greater or lefs agitation of
the blood.

He one day made a pre fen t of two thou-
find ducats to a confidential domeilic, and
advifed him to go and live far from his
pre fence, that he might not be expofed to
the effects of his fury. The attachment
to his mailer was fo great that the fervant
refufed, and, in one of his barbarous fits,
Milky Abdallah (hot this faithful fervant,
reproaching him with his folly for not hav-
ing left him as he had been advifed.

As he was paffing the river, of Beth on
horfeback, at the place where it falls into
the Seboo, the Emperor was in danger of
being drowned, when one of his Negroes

ran

[ 288

ran to his fuccour and preferved Lis life*
The flave congratulated himfelf for hav-
ing faved his matter, when the Emperor,
drawing his fabre clave him down, and ex-
claimed, " Here is an infidel! To fuppofe
" that he had faved me ! As if God ftood
ic in need of his intervention to fave a
«< lharifV

Without publicly neglecting the rites
of the law, Muley Abdallah paid little re-
fpecl: to popular prejudices, and put to
death feveral Moors, whofe fancYity had
been held in veneration. He one day
killed two Marabouts, who came from the
neighbourhood of Tunis, and who in-
formed" him they were faints. " You
" faints !" faid the Emperor. " You are
<c no faints. You are impoftors, who,
rt abuiing the credulity of the people,
" come here as fpies." After which he
fired a muiket at each, and laid them dead
at his feet.

A faint, revered throughout the country,
having come to the court of this prince to
remonftrate to him concerning his mode of

life,

C 289 ]

life, fo contrary to the laws of Mahomet,
faid to the Emperor : " The prophet him-
" felf has ordained me to come, on his part,
" and fpeak to thee thus — - And did the
" prophet tell thee in what manner I
" (hould receive thee ? — Yes, he told me
" that you would be affected by the words
" which he commanded me to fpeak, and
" that you would employ them to your
" advantage — Then he has deceived thee,"
faid the Emperor, difcharging at the fame
moment his piece, which laid the faint
lifelefs ; and, farther to punifli his teme-
rity, he would not permit his body to be
buried.

An Alcaid, who had been guilty of dif-
obedience, having come to the court of
Muley Abdallah to implore pardon, the
Emperor commanded him to be beheaded.
He then ordered dinner to be ferved to the
officers who had accompanied this Alcaid,
and to place in the difh of Coofcoofoo, out
of which they were to eat, this bloody
head, that they might not foon forget the
punifhment difobedience merited,

Vol. II. U Thus

[ 2<p 3

Tims did this prince make his crimes
and executions his amufement. Enough
has been faid of him ; it were but to in-
fult humanity to add more traits of the
cruelty of his chara&er,

BOOK

[ 29* ]

BOOK V.

The reign of Sidi Mahomet-^- Commercial regula-
tions— Administration, public and domeftic — In-
surrections— Wars, Locufts, Famine — Character
of the Emperor — Commerce of the Empire —
Puties, Coins, Weights, and Meafures.

INTRODUCTION.

After the death of Muley Abdallah, his
only fon, Sidi Mahomet, who, during
the life of his father, had already ac-
cuflomed the people to refpedl his au-
thority, fucceeded to the empire without
oppofition.

U * The

E 292 3

3Phe reign of this Emperor has not been
varied by revolutions, or victories ; nei-
ther is it fullied by thofe ads of vio-
lence, and barbarity, which fo dreadfully
flamed the fceptre of his predcceflbrs.
J have imagined, the belt mode of
giving a clear idea of his reign would
be briefly to examine the feveral regu-
lations attending it, and the principal
events. Thefe combined will prefent a
faithful picture of the character, the
genius, and the views of Sidi Mahomet,
and of the prefent ftate of the empire
of Morocco. I (hall therefore fpeak fe-
parately of the difpoiitions and plans of
this Emperor, relative to commerce and
taxation, to the general administration
of the government, the domeftic and
oeconomical affairs of the palace, the
few .infurrections that have happened
during his reign, and the events by
which it has been diftinguifhed.

chap.

t 293 j

CHAP. I.

fhe difpofitwns and views of Sidi Mahomet
relative to commerce and taxation.

X HE empire having been fo long dis-
turbed by revolutions, under the reign of
Muley Abdallah, the diftant provinces
lived iii a kind of independence. The
governors had ufurped more authority,
and the treafury had been exhaufted by the
avidity of the foldiers, and the capricious
manner in which money was fquandered
by that Emperor. Sidi Mahomet, ripened
by age and experience when he afcended
the throne, applied himfelf to find means
of quickly re-eftablifhing the finances, and
fupplying the ftate treafury, anH with the
tare of making arbitrary power refpe&ed
throughout the provinces, which pow<2r had
U 3 beeri

[ m ]

been fomewhat enfeebled by the cofieuf*
fions of the late troublefome reign.

The information he had acquired, con-
cerning commerce and taxation, occafioned
the Emperor to perceive that, of all poli-
tical advantages, that which tended to re-
vive commerce in a nation could alone aug*
ment its revenues, and repair its loffes*
The profits arifing from piracy, an occupa-
tion which was expofed to real loffes and
uncertain gains, might, on the one part,
provoke the refentment of nations, the
maritime forces of which were daily aug-
menting, while, on the other, the barter
of the productions of the empire would
afcertain to him thofe more abundant re-
fources of wealth which accrue from agri-
culture.

Reflexions like thefe determined Sidi
Mahomet to make peace with the powers
of Europe. After confirming tfcat already
made between Morocco, England, and
Holland, he, in the beginning of his reign,
concluded treaties with Denmark and
Sweden fucceffively ; and, in the following
i years,

c m ]

years, with the republic of Venice, France,
Spain, and Portugal. In 1782, the Em-
peror and the Grand Duke of Tufcany
made peace, and the other powers of Italy
enjoy a kind of truce with the empire of
Morocco.

Before the reign of Sidi Mahomet the
nations of Europe had formed commercial
connections on the coaft of Morocco, and
thofe who were not at peace with the em-
pire ftill enjoyed the fafety of afylum.
True it is that the inftability of the go-
vernment fomewhat diminished the confi-
dence of nations ; and the little fecurity the
roads of Morocco afforded, in winter, was
an obftacle to the incteafe of navigation.
At that time there were only a few fafe
ports on the coaft of the empire. They
were dangerous from the impediments
of bars, and the ignorance, avarice, or evil
intentions, of the pilots.

In order to aid commerce, .and encreafe

the glory of his reign, Sidi Mahomet caufed

the town of Mogodor to be built in the fouth

part of his empire, where nature had formed

U 4 a port

f 296 J

a portacceffibleinall feafons. The Emperor
encouraged foreign merchants to ere£t
houfes in this new city, by giving them to
fuppofe the duties of the cuftoms mould be
leflened. The Moors and the Jews alfo
built houfes there to pleafe their Mafter ;
and Mogodor, as I have already obferved,
is built with more regularity than any other
city of the empire.

After having thus founded Mogodor, the
principal expence of which was fupported
by foreign commerce, the Emperor, who
began to take delight in building, ordered
the fortrefles of Laracha and Rabat to be
repaired, embellifhed each of thefe cities
with fome edifices and public markets, and,
at the fame time, made additions to his pa-
lace at Morocco, for which he has a degree
of predilection. After he had extended
the circumference of this palace, he caufed
new pavillions to be added, built with tafte
by European mafons.

In 1773, Sidi Mahomet commanded the
foundation of the town of Fedale to be
laid, which w.as then begun, but which has

never

[ 297 1

never been finished. Thefe undertakings
have been neglected, purfued, or again
abandoned, according to the temporary
change of circumftances, or, perhaps, be-
caufe the revenues of the Emperor are in-
efficient to fupport fuch expences. Nei-
ther do cities feem fo neceffary, in thefe
temperate climates, where the people are
habituated to a folitary country life, as
they are in latitudes lefs mild.

The confidence which the regulations,
political views, and perfonal character, of
Sidi Mahomet infpired, among foreign na-
tions, at firft multiplied mercantile efta-
blifhments on the coaft of Morocco. Mer-
chants fettled at Santa Cruz, Mogodor,
Saffi, Rabat, Laracha, and Tetuan. There
were even too many, and their purpofes
were fubverted by their own eagernefs.
The Emperor fucceffively increafed the
duties, hoping thereby to augment his re-
venues ; but this oppreffion, howTever, pro-
duced an effect the very reverfe.. Shackled
thus by taxation, commerce grew lan-
guid.

The

C 29s 1

The Emperor, pretending to give it new
animation, became a merchant himfelf;
and this did but increafe the evil, for it did
but increafe reftraint. Obliged to fell their
wares a d to purchafe the country pro^
duds at fuch prices as the defpot pleafed
to fix, merchants became merely his fac-
tors, and were conftrained to remove from
port to port in his empire, wherever he
chofe to indicate, as bed fuited his conve-
nience, or to thofe to which he gave the
preference.

By this means the channel of trade was
interrupted. The farmer and the foreign
trader, reaping no fruit from the labours
of their duftry, and unable to refill: the
current of authority, are wholly difcou-
raged ; the fields lie wafte, the markets are
defsrte ', and, of all the mercantile houfes
diip r led over the coaft of Morocco, there
fcarcely remain fix. United at Mogodor,
and accuftomed to the variations of the
government*, hey have to ftruggle againfl
the extort ons excited by the fpirit of in-
tereft, and which, at one moment in-

creafed,

[ 299 ]

creafed, at the next relaxed, are never cer-
tain*

More enlightened than his predeceflbrs,
Sidi Mahomet, in 1766, made a regulation
which betokened extenfive vie ws ; but, not
being diredled by invariable principles, its
efFeft was merely momentary. At that time
there was a confiderable quantity of corn
amaffed, in the maritime provinces, which
long had been inclofed in Matamores*?
and there expofed to perifh, exportation,
being prohibited by the law. The Em-
peror, whofe fyftem was more humane and
more oeconomical, wifhing to conciliate
the wants of the nation with its preju-
dices, and give his plan a legal fanftion, af-
fembled the learned in the law, and pro-
pofed to them his difficulties concerning
the exportation of corn.

* Corn can only be preferred in fuch kind of pits in
hot countries ; and it appears probable that the reafon
is becaufe the corn, there, is firm and hard. The wheat
reaped in the northern countries of Europe, which is called
foft corn, could not be fo preferred. Yet this difference in
the grain is accidental, and relative to the nature of the foil
and the climate, and not to its own inherent qualities.

" I have

C 300 1

" I have need," laid the Emperor, " of
" arms and ammunition, for the defence of
" our religion ; but, by purchafing them,
" I muft exhauft the treafures of the ftate.
" Would it be contrary to our law to pro-
" cure thefe things, by giving in exchange
" corn which we cannot eat ourfelves,. and
" which, in time, muft perifh J"

The proportion was {o clear, and the
neceflity alfo of approving the will of the
defpot fo great, that the affembly concluded
fuch barter would be entirely legal, and the
exportation of corn was permitted in ex-
change for mortars, cannon, and gunpow-
der. The Emperor, at length, received
money for it, becaufe that, with money,
arms and ammunition may be bought.
In a fhort time he had collected not
only artillery, bombs, and mortars, but
fome millions of livres, while the pro-
vinces that had fold their corn had this ad-
ditional reiource to pay their enforced con-
tributions, which, in the Empire of Mo-
rocco, is the ufual confequence of wealth,
a tax on their ficklenefs, and the pledge of

their

[ m ]

their fidelity. Thus did this excellent re-
gulation benefit the Emperor alone.

The exportation of corn from the coaft
of Morocco would become an inexhauftible
fource of barter and wealth, to the fubject
and to the ftate, were only a moderate tax-
ation impofed, wrhich might encourage
agriculture. But, in free ftates only, and
governments that ferioufly are active tQ
procure happinefs to man, are fuch advan-
tages well undcrftood ; therefore do \vq
only behold the lands rich and fruitful
in thofe happy countries where agricul-
ture is encouraged ; while the provinces of
Morocco, naturally fertile, yet overrun
with brambles, are little better than deferts,
and where the generations of men lar-
guiih and infenfibly diminifh.

C II A P-

C 5°2 .]

CHAP. II.

Of (he public Adminlftratlm under S'tdi Ma-
homet,

I

\y AT has before been fhewn that the go-

vernment of Morocco is wholly fubordi-
dinate to the will of the defpot, and that
he confides the regulation of the provinces
and cities of his empire to his Alcaids and
Bafhaws, It has likewife been obferved
that the Emperor himfelf, three times a
week, gives public audiences to enforce
juftice, and at which all his fubje&s, with*
out exception, are heard. This fyftem,
which cannot be too much admired, pre-r
vents malverfation, and the abufe of autho-
rity among the chiefs, It gives the fove-
reign an opportunity of knowing the truth,
which it is the intereft of his courtiers
to conceal, of becoming acquainted with

whatever

[ 3®3 1

whatever paffes in his itates, even to their
utmoft boundaries, and enables him to fu?
perintend the adminift ration of juftice.

After the aeeeffion of Sidi Mahomet,
this judicious Emperor, defirous of ef-
facing all recollection of the caprices of
his father, wholly employed himfeif in the
reftoration of order, of re-eftabhfhing rules
for government, and uniformity in the de-
cifions of juftice. Well knowing the ta-
lents and penetration of Muley Dris, his
relation, with whom he had pa fled a part
of his youth, he made him his friend, re-
pofed entire confidence in him, and almoft
raifed him to the rank of his aflbciate in
the empire,

Muley Dris was a penetrating and en^
lightened prince. Though covetous of
riches, he ftill was generous to his Mafter.
Subtle, fagacious, and fertile in expedients,
he foon brought all affairs to pafs through
his hands, and almoft governed the empire
under the fhadow of the monarch. That
he might conform to the tafte of the Em-
peror, he appeared in public with the ut-

moft

[ 3°4 ]

moft fimplicity. But, for this abftinence,
he amply recompenfed himfelf in his pa-
lace and in his gardens, where he lived vo-
luptuoufly.

Muley Dris almoft exclufively appropri-
ated to himfelf the adminiftration of Eu-
ropean affairs. This was to him a fecret
fource of wealth, which, by his manage-
ment and addrefs, became inexhauftible.
Not one perfon at the court of Morocco
could treat fuch fubjects with greater dex-
terity, or could fo artfully varnifh, or give
effeft to, his good or his ill offices. Full
of diffimulation with foreigners, who came
toviiit him, he oftentatioufly difplayed his
cabinets, richly ornamented with filver
plate, china, and jewels, which he had re-
received as prefents from various courts.
Like a cunning courtezan, who knows
artfully to ftimulate the generofity of
her lover, he, with fubtlety, infinuated to
one nation how much he had received
from another, to excite emulation, and the
deiire of pleafmg him, by the largenefs of
their gifts. Thus acquainted with the
human heart, he fported with the vanity of

individuals}

C S°5 ]

individuals, and raifed a rivalihip betweeii
nations.

The wealth which Muley Dris had thus
accumulated has had a iimilarfate to that of
all other individuals, in Morocco, who have
preceded him, or furvived. Acquired as
it was by the influence of the fovereign, it
has become a part of the treafures of the
irate, which mud, at length, infenfibly
engulph the whole riches of the empire,
This prince was, various times before his
death, {tripped of a part of his property,
and the Emperor took care to fecure what
remained after his deceafe, fearing left his
children, who were young, might rriake
an ill ufe of their money.

Muley Dris, after having indulged in
pleafure to excefs, died in March, 1772, of
a dropfy, which appeared to be the confe-
quence of his irregularities. He made an
immoderate ufe of the Achicha, which is
of a nature fo heating, and which rendered
him fo choleric and ferocious, that there
was no barbarity he was not capable to

Vol, II, X commit

C 306 ]

commit during his intoxication. He had
inherited the vices of his anceftors, was
intemperate, covetous, and cruel ; and,
had fortune railed him to power, he would
have walked in the paths of Muley Arfhid,

Muley Ifhmael, and Muley Abdallah.

>

After the death of this prince, Sidi Ma-
homet having no confidential perfon whom
he entrufted, indulged his own character
more freely. Some of his felfiuh agents,
whom he appoints or depofes at pleafure,
are charged with the execution of his or-
ders. They are become the inftruments
by whom all buiinels mud be tranfadted,
and negotiations are now more tedious and
more uncertain. Each new refolution is
expofed to thofe variations which jnuft be
the refult, under a government the fyftem
. of which is to confult the intereft'of the
moment.

CHAP,

t 3°7 ]

CHAP. Ill,

Of th-e -domeflic affairs and interior tec'ommy
of the palace.

k5 1 D I Mahomet does not awe the fpeo
tator by any cftentation of magnificence,
The friend of Simplicity, and without the
leaft inclination for luxury, this Emperor
is only diftinguiihed from the grandees of
his court by being on horfeback, and
prote£ted from the iunbeams by ah um-
brella, which, in Morocco, is the dis-
tinctive mark of fovereignty. The nume-
rous retinue of officers, foldiers, pages, and
Secretaries, who appertain to the court, be-
fpeak the prefence of the monarch, who
never appears in public but on horfeback,
or in his calefh. He is never izzn on foot,
except in his palace, at his devotions, or,
on fome few occafiens, in his gardens. He
X 2 never

[ 3°S ]

never travels in a carriage, becaufe of the
bad ftate of the roads.

The Emperor of Morocco, only on days
of ceremony, or when he holds his Me-
fhooar, that is, his council, or audience,
appears with all his pomp, which then
rather coniifts in the number than in the
fplendour of his train. When he leaves
his palace, for his amufement or to viiit
the public works, he difplays no pomp ;
and he has been fometimes fcen in a
fhallop, on the Sallee river, with not more
than two attendants.

The cuftoms of the court of Morocco,
and thofe of the Ottoman court, bear no
refemblance. The latter is remarkable for
its magnificence, the former for its ruftic
fimplicity. At the court of the Grand
Seignior, the adminiftration of the govern-
ment, and that of the palace, are entrufted
to a number of minifters, who themfelves
live in great ftate, and poflefs great power.
At Morocco, the Defpot grants his fub-
jecls only fleeting and momentary confi-
dence. They attend on him but to exe-
cute

I 3°9 )

cute his commands, without poffeffing any
ftable or permanent authority.

Female negro flaves have the care of the
palace, and of the kitchen. The Emperor
has occafionally fent for European cooks
and bakers ; but, wanting the conveniences
to which they had been accuftomed, unac-
quainted with the manners of the Moors,
ignorant of the language, and not eafily
habituating themfelves to a kind of wan-
dering life, thefe Europeans never fettled
at the court of Morocco. The monarch
being, alfo, naturally temperate, troubles
himfelf little concerning fuch things. He
has not fo much as any fixed hour of
dinner.

The table of the palace is ferved with
great uniformity. The Moors eat only to
live, and are unacquainted with that mul-
titude of dimes, and that variety of fauces,
which, in Europe, are objects of fo much
induftry and expence. Sidi Mahomet gene-
rally eats alone, and thofe officers who per-
fonally attend on him are afterward ferved
from his table. Each of the Emperor's
X ^ wives

[ 310 1

Wives has a feparate table, which is fuf.
ficiently fupplied to fuffice for all her
attendants. Coofcoofoo, which has been
tlefcribed in its proper place, is the chief
dim of the Moors, as well in the palace of
the Emperor as in the hovel of the tub-
jecl ; . and this is drelied in fnch quantities
that the vefiel that contains it is fometiip.es
carried en a kind of chairman's horfe.

The palace of the Emperor contains nu-.
merous fervants of both fcxes, who are
new cloathed once a year. On this occa-
f:on all the taylors in the city are furn-
nioned, who ufually are Jews, and they are
obliged to labour gratis. This is a fpecies of
corvee, or tax, for which they indemnify
themieives, when they can, by filching.
Molt trades are obliged to work gratis for
the Emperor. The proprietor of a lime kiln
muft fet apart a tenth for the fervice of the
monarch ; each article of merchandize, or
induftry, which is fubjecled to a like taxa-
tion, becomes more dear in proportion, and
what the prince does not pay the purchafer
muft. The Emperor is ferved by flaves,
who receive no other wages than what arife

from

[ 3" 1

from the profits or perquifites of the bufi-
nefs they tranfacl:. He is at no expence,
except that of feeding and cloathing his fa-
mily, and which yet is defrayed out of the
product of the tenths, and the cuftom-houfe
duties, fo that he feldom has any occalioa
to difburfe money ,

In the palace of the Emperor is a guard
of women, with their female commanders,
who are called Harnffa, and who form a
kind of court, the province of which is
the chaftifement of women. Thefe Har-
rifta are fent over the country to put the
wives of the grandees to the torture, when
the latter are imprifoned, and to make them
confefs all they know concerning the wealth
of their huibands.

The luxury of the ladies of the palace is
not very great. They depend on the gene-
rofity of the fovereign, wrhich, in Sidi
Mahomet, is wholly actuated by the greater
or lefs degree of love they iiifpire. Such
women as have not greatly pleafed the mo-
narch are often neglected, forgotten, and
Jeft in one imperial city, when the Em^
X 4 peror

[ 31* 3

peror removes to another. This practice
gives credibility to the opinion that accefs
to the palace of the Emperor, in Morocco,
is not io difficult as at Cqnftantinople,
where the women are (hut up, and guarded
with greater aufterity. The women at
fhe court of the Grand Seignior are kept in
much greater fplendor, and are held in
much higher efteem than in thefe lbuthern
climates, where the Seraglio is renewed fo
often .that they can only inlpire a fleeting
pafiion. The prelent Emperor has been
known to fend back to a Baihaw one of his
daughters, to whom he had been only mar-
lied iix. months.

The wives of the Emperor of Morocco,
who are legally cfpoufed, are not flaves, but
are generally either princeffes, the daugh-
ters of Sharifs, the daughters of the go-
vernors of provinces, or of private indi-
viduals. The Great Queen, for fuch is the
title they give to the firjft wife, was the
i lighter of Muiey Sohman, and grand
daughter of Muiey Arihid. Tliis princeis,
who, by right of priority, had precedence
i'ver all the other women of the palace,

enjoyed,

[ 3T3 ]

enjoyed, during her life, by the rights of
birth and perfonal merit, a very high
afcendancy over the mind of the Emperor,
The very fame reaibn, alfo, enfnred to her
the attachment and veneration of the peo-
ple, me having ever, with the utmofT; pru-
dence, attended to the government of Mo-
rocco, when the monarch was abfent. The
regret of the empire, at her death, was
equal to her merit and her virtues.

Sidi Mahomet has a great number of
children. His daughters, married to fha-
rifs, have diftri&s afiigned them, and, du-
ring the life of the Emperor, reiide in the
palace, where they are miftreffes of their
own actions. In order to provide for his
fons, as foon as they are married % the Em-
peror beftows upon them the governments
of provinces and cities, where thefe young
princes, indulging all the intemperance and
follies of youth, and yielding to the advice
and rapacity of their fervants, inflict every
kind of vexation, while the iubjects have nei-
ther the fortitude nor the liberty to com-
plain. Thus, in the adminiftradon of their
offices do they imbibe the art of oppreuing the

people ^

[ 3H 3

people ; and, when their extortions raife
imiverfal difcontent, which can no longer
he concealed, they arepunifhed by confifca-
tion for the benefit of the public treafury.
After this difplay of juftice, oppreflion once
more recommences ; the treafury fwells,
and the miferable people are the eternal
victims,

CHAP,

3T5

CHAP. IV,

Revolutions that have happened during the
reign of Sidi Mahomet.

Notwithstanding the reftkfs

fpirit of the provinces, under the ever-agi-
tated reign of Muley Abdallah, the tran-
quillity became great, when Sidi Mahomet
afcended the throne. That difcontent,
which ever muft arife from public wretch-
ednefs, may often have brooded in fecret,
but has fi nee feldom burit forth. This
Emperor has maintained a calm throughout
his irate s, by occasionally going in perfon
to their utmoft boundaries. Wherever he
appeared, fome pretext for levying contribu-
tions generally has attended him ; either ori-
ginating in complaints againft the gover-
nors, or in the prejudices and divifions
which are unceafing, among thofe tribes

whiQh

[ I'6 J

which inhabit the provinces. The paffions
by which the Moors are tormented are never
ending motives for inflicting pecuniary
punifhment. All their quarrels, their re-
conciliations, all acts of authority, of
mercy, or of juftice, are inceffantly con-
cluded by the payment of fome quintals
of filver. Such trifling difputes give the
monarch no inquietude ; they do but
draw his attention for a moment. It is even
a part of his policy to maintain and pro-
voke thefe miiunderftandings ; they are the
fafeguard of the defpot, and feldom fail to
turn to the advantage of his treafury.

Sidi Mahomet had reigned fifteen years,
when, in 1772, fome feeds of thofe revo-
lutions, which had fo often overthrown
this empire in its birth, began to appear.
A Marabout, whole enthuliaftic imagina-
tion was en flamed by pride and fanaticifm,
departed from the fouth, which had been
the cradle of all the ancient dynaflies, ac-
companied by a number of his dilciples,
united by the fpirit of bigottry.

Thefe

[ 3l7 ]

Thefe vifionaries, amounting to about
three thoufand, went to Morocco, and in-
formed the Emperor that the end of his
reign approached, and that their chief was
to become the fovereign. The only arms
of the companions of this Marabout were
fanatic predictions, and clubs, which they,
in the extravagance of their phrenzy, pro-
phefied mould be transformed into guns,
w7hile the arms of their adverfaries mould,
on the contrary, be metamorphofed into
clubs.

It fo happened, however, that their pro-
phecies were not fulfilled. The enthu-
fiafts were hewn down, and put to flight,
like cowards, by a few foldiers ; and their
chief, who had encouraged them in their
reveries, having been feized in a mofque,
was led before the Emperor at his public
audience. The Marabout anfwered all in-
terrogatories with the fortitude and impu-
dence of an infpired perfon, and the Em-
peror commanded him to be put to death,
at the Mefhooar, as a difturber of the public
peace.

From

[ 3>S 1

From that time, till the year 177S, the
provinces gave no figns of fedition fufficieni
to infpire fear, Thole of the north, ac-
cording to the cuflom of this people, began
to be a little troublefome when the Em-
peror was in the fouth, and thofe of the
louth did juft the fame when he was in the
north ; but the prefence of the monarch,
and pecuniary fiaes, brought them back trj
obedience ; and thus did the Emperor at
once increafe his wealth and confirm Ills'
authority.

The treafury was exhaufted, in 1 774, by
the fiege of Melilla, and a fucceffion of ca*
lamities having prevented the Emperor pro-
portioning his expences to his revenues, and
again filling his coffers, he found himfelf
obliged to increafe the old taxes, and even
to add new. The Negroes, the arrears of
whofe pay progrefiively increafed, mur-
mured ag-ainft thefe new taxes, and, at
length, in October 1778, drove the tax ga-
therers from Mecjuinezj and feized on the
pity.

After

[ 3*9 ]

After an act of fuch open rebellion, tne
Negroes fent a deputation to Muley Ali, at
Fez, the eldeft ion of Sidi Mahomet, to
offer him the empire. This wife prince,
incapable of failing in the refpect he owed
to his father, rejected the propofal, endea-
voured ineffectually to calm the minds of
the people, and thought proper to retire to
Rabat, that he might not provoke the in-
iblence of the Negroes by a more obflinate
refufal.

Muley Ali having thus declined, the Ne-
groes determined to apply to Muley Yezid,
who did not betoken the like repugnance to
the throne, and this prince, beloved by the
foldiers, was publicly proclaimed at the hour
of prayer. This revolution caufed an in-
furrection at Mequinez. The governor of
that city found a difficulty in efcaping, amid
the tiring of muikets, and his houfe was
pillaged and pulled down.

Muley Yezid, notwithstanding, thought
proper to inform his father of what had
happened, and make excufes concerning
the facility with which he had yielded to

the

[ r-° 3

the defire of the ibldiers, hoping by that
means once more to reduce them to obedi-
ence. This conduce of Muley Yezid,
and ibme mirintelligence among the Ne-
groes, relaxed the progrefs of the revoke
tion, which would have been eifecled, had
the prince, who was neither poflerled of
money nor credit, marched at the head of
his troops to Rabat. Reinforced as he
would have been by eight thoufand Ne-
groes, who were there affembled, he might
ealily have made himfelf mailer of the
treafury, which had, very injudicioufly, for
ibme years, been diitributed in the cities of
Rabat, Laracha, and Tangiers, The pof-
feiilca. of thefe places, which might have
been taken in a week, would have rendered
Muley Yezid mailer of the empire. The
tiril eriervefcence of tumult over, as is the
caie in all popular commotions, fedition
weakened in confequence of reflection, of
the inexperience of the prince, and the irre-
folution of the foldiers, who, themfelves,
had only a con fu fed idea of the infurrec-
feioiis their predeceilbrs had io often railed,
in the beginning of this" century. A calm
lucc.veded this (light tempefl, and the re-
volt

[ 32i 1

volt at Mequinez ceafed of itfelf without
farther progrefs.

Informed of this rebellion, the Emperor
departed from Morocco with his troops,
and, on his march, fee u red the fidelity of
thofe who were at Rabat. He then con-
tinued his way to Mequinez, where he
was received as a fovereign. Each party,
equally agitated by fear, gave contradictory
relations of what had paffed*

From Mequinez the Emperor went to
Fez. This city, which, from its extent and
antiquity, has feme preponderance in the
•affairs of the erripire, had adopted fimilar
ideas to thofe of the foldiers, had ftrength-
ened their diflatisfaction, and given it im-
portance* The principal citizens, and men
of the law, being reproached by the Em-
peror for their difobedience to his orders,
replied, with like firmnefs and refpect,
" That the city of Fez meaned not to dif*
" obey him, nor ever fo could mean, but
" that the taxes laid on provifions, the in-
" create of duties on merchants, and the

Vol, II. Y " new

[ 322 I

cc new impofts which had been laid, and?
" which Muffelmen regarded as contrary
64 to their cuftoms, and inimical to reli-
" gion, were confiderations that, to a
" prince fojuft and fo religious, might ex-
" cufe the general murmur and difeontent
" of the people/'

Sidi Mahomet, yielding to circumftances,-
prudently diffembled all refentment ; but,
being convinced by intercepted letters that
his fon, Muley Yezid, maintained a cor-
refpondence with the Brebes, which was
fufceptible of dangerous interpretation, he
cauied him to be confined, and afterward
fcnt him on pilgrimage to Mecca, by that
means to calm his unbridled paffions, and
render him more circumfpecl, Grown
wifer by : age and experience, the prince
reaped thofe fruits from this voyage which
are the ufual confequences of the ftudy of
men, and the knowledge gained by vifiting
foreign nations.

However inclined to clemency, Sidi Ma-
homet could not forget the audacious con-
duel of his negro ibldiers at Mequinez,

I and

C 323 ]

and accordingly took meafures to rid him-
felf of thefe turbulent troops, the impa-
tience of which daily became more bur-
denfome, and whofe ficklenefs and avarice
had fo frequently been experienced by his
father.

The exhaufted treafury could with diffi-
culty fupply the pay of the troops. The
country, ravaged as it had been by locufts,
In 1779, and by three fucceffive years of
dearth for want of rain, which increafed
its wretchednefs, no longer permitted the
people to pay thofe imports which time and
circumftances had multiplied. There were
not above ten millions of livres, or fome-
what more than four hundred thoufand
pounds, in the treafury, and four of thefe
millions were neceffary for the fupport, in
thefe calamitous times, of thirty, or thirty-
five thoufand negro cavalry.

In this embarrafling fituatioii the Em-
peror determined, in 1780, to reduce a part
of thefe forces, from whofe unquiet ipirit
he had every thing to dread. That he
might difguife his intention, and prevent
thofe inconveniences which might other-
Y 2 wife

C 3U ]

wife have been the refult, he fent thefe
Negroes away by detachments, pretending
they mufl go and be quartered in the pn>
vinces ; and, by an after order, fent ftill
ftronger detachments to difarm the firft,
and appoint them lands, in different coun-
tries, fufficiently diftant from each other
for him not to live in fear of their commu-
nication. A part of them, the fidelity of
whofe chiefs he was aflured of, were ftill
maintained ; thus, in the courfe of fixty
years, the hundred thoufand armed Ne-
groes, whom Muley Jfhmael had left, and
their pofterity, are reduced to about fifteen
thoufand foldiers. All the remainder have
disappeared.

C H A P.

[ 3*5 ]

CHAP. V.

Of the Wars, Locujls, Famine, and other
events, under the reign of Sldl Mahomet,

HE Emperor having employed the
beginning of his reign to re-eftablifh com-
merce throughout his ftates, he afterward
made various incurfions into the provinces
bordering on the mountains, there to con-
firm and render his power reipectable.
Thefe expeditions, undertaken from mo-
tives of intereft, conciliation, and peace,
never were of that impetuous and cruel
kind with thofe by which the people had
fo often been affli&ed, under the barbarous
government of his predeceflbrs.

Scarcely had this Emperor collected, in

1 767 and 1 7685a quantity of artillery? than,

Y3 *

[ 3^6 ]

in the beginning of 1769, he made pre-
parations for the fiege of Mazagan, which
the Portuguefe had yefqlved to evacuate^
and which furrendered in the month of
march, in the fame year.

Flattered by this conqueft, Sidi Maho-
met, who thus infpired Europe with a
greater idea of his puiflance, and his people
with higher awe? meditated projects ftill
more ambitious. Having permitted farther
exportations of corn, from the year 1771 to
the clofe of 1773, he ftill farther increafed
his train of artillery ; and, in order to con-
ceal his intentions, he went into the north
of his empire, and took up his refidence
for fome time at Rabat and Sallee. The
diilike which the Emperor had entertained
to thefe two cities, which, in times of for-
mer revolutions, had thrown off their alle-
giance to his father, ferved as a pretence to
make researches concerning the effects and
houfes that had appertained to the royal
domain, and he recovered that vaft inclo-
fure which 9 fince the reign of Jacob Al-
monfor, after having fo often had new

mafters5

[ V-l 3

rafters, had been embellifhed by gardens
and a fine vineyard.

When this vineyard flou rimed, fix pounds
•of exceeding good grapes might have been
bought for a blanquil, worth about icv^ii
farthings. In 1775 a fing*e pound of
grapes coft fix blanquils, or ten pence, fo
that the price was increafed in the pro-
portion of thirty fix to one.

Befide this eftimable inclofure, the in-
habitants of Rabat farther loft feveral
houfes, and were :even expofed to the li-
centioufnefs of the foldiery, which, during
this time of prejudice, ftole, with impu-
nity, their flocks, their fruits, and corn.
Sidi Majiornet caufed the ground plot of
a new town to be marked out, in a place
called Guadel, which, in the idiom of the
country, fignifies referve, and to which
town he gave this fame name, and caufed it
to be inhabited by five thoufand of his
Negro troops.

Guadel, which this monarch caufed to

be embelliflied with various mofques and

Y 4 public

C 3*« ]

public edifices, is at prefent deferted, and
the houfes have all gone to ruin fince the
time when, from political motives, the Ne-
groes were reduced and dilperfed. Scarcely
built in 1776, this town was no more, in
1 78 1 , than a frightful heap of ruins, which
feemed to have efcaped the fury of men
and of the elements. The monarch afterr
ward, more juft, fuffered each individual to
reclaim his property. But the remem.-
brance of oppreffion fo recent has dif-
gufted the inhabitants of Rabat, who are
little anxious to recover poffefiions the limits
of which they do not know, and the titles
to which are no longer in their own
power.

The project which the Emperor fecretly
meditated was not difcovered till the year
1774. He then aflembled, in the heart of
his empire, troops, artillery, and ammuni-
tion, and, after having maiked his views,,
under pretext of hoftilities, at one time
againft the city of Fez, at another againft
the mountaineers, he began his march to
lay liege to Melilla. The Emperor pre-
tended, for fuch were his expreffions, that

7 h©

[ 329 ]

he was only at peace by fea with his friend
Don Carlos, which he was very defirous to
maintain, but that they were not at peace
by land.

This diftindtion, charafteriftic of the
Moors, and which originated in the hope cf
fuccefs, gave great offence to the court of
Spain, which fent fpeedy fuccour for the
defence of Melilla, and broke off all cor-
refpondence with the court of Morocco.
Sidi Mahomet might ealily have taken the
place, had he at firft attacked it vigoroufly,
becaufe that, depending on the faith of
treaties, it was then but feebly garrifoned.
But General Sherlof, having entered Me-
lilla with between leven and eight hundred
men, made fo courageous a defence that
the Emperor had caufe to repent of an en-
terprife, thefuccefs of which failed, which
had coft him vaft fums, and which the
Moors feemed lecretly to have difap-
proved.

Sidi Mahomet was obliged to remove his
camp farther from the walls, the cannon of

which

[ 33o ]

which thundered upon his army. It was
alfo annoyed by fome frigates, which?
notwithstanding the narrow fpace they had
to act in, manoeuvred very ably. The
Moors were fo difcouraged that, could the
Spaniards have attacked them with any
confiderable force, they muft have put them
to flight, and taken the baggage and artil-?
lery.

The fiege of Melilla had occafioned ex-
pences, and met with impediments that ha4
not been forefeen. The cannon and am-
munition were to be tranfported acrofs the
lefler Atlas, a mixture of y allies and moun-
tains, among which there fcarcely was a
path. Thefe ftoney and ill-cultivated
countries were alfo unable to fupply pro-
vender, and this was obliged to be brought
at fuch an exceffive expence that the keep
of a horfe amounted to half a crown per
day. The foldiery muft likewife be en-
couraged by gratifications, fo that the
whole of thefe expences funk more than
thirty millions of livres, or one million
two hundred and fifty thoufand pounds
fterling, which was an immenfe fum for a

ftate

C 33l J

ftate fa*poor and exhaled. The Emperor
faw himfelf obliged to abandon his under-
taking ; and, that he might prevent thofe
impreflions which his retreat might make
on the Moors, he cauied it to be ri-moured,
through the provinces, that the King of
Spain would yield him up R , as

foon as he could quell the difcoiitents 01
Monks, who highly difiiked the ceffion of
that place. Rejoicings were made on the
receiving of this news, and Sidi Maho-
met returned to Mequinez, in the be-
ginning of 1775, exceedingly chagrined
with his own proceedings, and highly
dreading the refentment of the court of
Spain, and the formidable armament that
was then preparing, not knowing that it was
intended againft Algiers. /The Emperor
was, in effect, in the ntmoft perplexity, and
with reafon, at beholding the gathering
ftorm ; nor was he more tranquil till he
knew the true deftination of that fleet, and
heard of its failure.

After having thus provoked the refent-
ment of the court of Madrid, the mo-
narch employed all pofhble means to ef-
fect

[ 332 1

feci a reconciliation ; but the Spaniards, for
fome time, preferved that rancour which a
conduct fo perfidious had infpired. A
change in the affairs of Europe having oc-
cafioned explanations between the courts,
peace was re-efrablifhed in 1780, and, du-
ring its negociation, Sidi Mahomet did
every thing which he iuppofed might be
moll agreeable to the king of Spain, and
might induce him to forget the paft,

When Sidi Mahomet prepared for the
fiege of Melilla, he declared war againft
Holland, finding the prefent fent by the
republic, on fome extraordinary occafion,
not equal to his expectations. Hence it
may be judged how little confidence ought
to be placed in the friendfhip of a monarch
who fets his friendfhip up to fale, as ac-
tuated by whim, or intereft. Holland
fitted out fhips for the protection of her
commmerce, and, after a defenfive war,
when flie might have done much better,
renewed the peace in 1778, and increafed
her largefs.

During

[ 333 ]

During the reign of Sidi Mahomet, the
locufts, which fo often afflict the fouthern
climates, have various times ravaged the
empire of Morocco ; but never fo generally
or fo fatally as after the year 1778. In
.the fummerof that fame year, fuch clouds
of locufts came from the fouth that they
darkened the air, and devoured a part of
the harveft. Their offspring, which they
left on the ground, committed ftill much
greater mifchief. Locufts appeared and
bred anew in the following year, fo that
in the fpring the country was wholly co-
vered, and they crawled one over the other
in fearch of their fubfiftence.

It has before been remarked, in fpeaking
of the climate of Morocco, that the young
locufts are thofe which are the mod: mif-
chievous ; and that it feems almoft impof-
fible to rid the land of thefe infects, and
their ravages, when the country once be-
comes thus afflicted. In order to preferve
the houfes and gardens in the neighbour-
hood of cities, they dig a ditch two feet In
depth, and as much in width. This they
pallifade with reeds clofe to each other,

and

[ 334 ]
arid inclined inward toward the ditch ; fd
that the infedts, unable to climb up the
flippery reed; fall back into the ditch,-
where they devour one another.

This was the means by which the gar-
dens and vineyards of Rabat, and the city
kfelfj were delivered from this fcourge, in
1779. The intrenchment, which was, at
leaft, a league in extent, formed a femicircle
from the fea to the river, which feparates
Rabat from Sallee. The quantity of
young locufts here affembled was fo prodi-
gious that, on the third day, the ditch
could not be approached becaufe of the
ftench. The whole country was eaten up,
the very bark of the fig* pomegranate, and
orange tree, bitter, hard, and corrofive as
it was, could not efcape the voracity of
thefeinfedts.

The lands* ravaged throughout all the
weftern provinces, produced no harveft, and
the Moors, being obliged to live on their
ftores, which the exportation of corn (per-
mitted till 1774) had drained, began to feel
a dearth. Their cattle, for which they

make

[ 335 ]

iiiake no provision, and which, in theft*
climates, have no other fabfiftance than
that of daily grazing, died with hunger ;
nor could any be preferved but thofe which
were in the neighbourhood of mountains,
or in marfhy grounds, where the re- growth
of pafturage is more rapid.

In 1780, the diftrefs was (till farther in-
creased. The dry winter had checked the
produSs of the earth, and given birth to
a new generation of loeufts, that devoured
whatever had efcaped from the inclemenc}'
of the feafon. The hufbandman did not
reap even what he had fowed, and found
himfelf deftitute of food, cattle, or feed
corn. In this time of extreme wretched-
nefs, the poor felt all the horrors of famine.
They were feen wandering over the coun-
try to devour roots, and, perhaps, abridged
their days by digging into the entrails of
the earth in fearch of the crude means by
which they might be preferved,

Vaft numbers periflied of indigeftible
food and want. I have beheld country
people in the roads, and in the ftreets. who

had

[ 336 ]

had died of hunger, and who were thrown!
acrofs affes to be taken and buried. Fa-
thers fold their children. The hufband,
with the confent of his wife, would take
her into another province, there to beftow
her in marriage as if fhe were his fifter*
and afterward come and reclaim her, when
his wants were no longer fo great. I
have ftm women and chi-dren run after
camels, and rake in their dung to feek for
fome indigeited grain of barley, which, if
they found, they devoured with avidity.

Let us riot dwell too long on woes which
thus afflict humanity, and of which fo
many thoufands, whofe hearts are rendered
infeniible of pity by plenty, have no con-
ception. The mifery would have been
much greater, had not Spain and Portugal,
where the harvefts had been tolerably
abundant, permitted the exportation of oil,
butter, dried fruits, and other provifions*
and particularly the corn of the north*
%vhich happily, at that time, wTas plentiful
at Cadiz and at Lifbon. This corn, which
had paffed through fo many hands, was
ibid in the markets of Sallee at one hun-
dred

[ 317 1

dred and twenty livres, or five pounds; the
meafure, which meafure correfponds with
the Setier of Paris ** Bad oil and rancid
butter were worth one hundred and eighty
livres, or feven pounds ten fhillings, the
quintal. Peas, beans, and lentils, which
abound in thefe countries, were become
obje&s of fo much luxury that they were
counted out by grains* and twelve or
fifteen were fold for a denier. During
three or four years of dearth, the people
ate bread which, by the mixture of the fpe-
cies of grain, and its bad quality, was ex-
ceedingly heavy, and difficult of digeftioiie
Good bread was worth from fix- pence to
feven-pence halfpenny the pound, and
other articles of fubfiftence in proportion*

Afflicting and extreme as the calamities
of the empire at this time were, the awful
refigaation of thefe unhappy people, to the

* According to the author's eftimate (See page 328 of
Vol. I.) that the Setier of Paris weighs two hundred and a
half, this meafure will contain fomewhat under four
Vuihels. T.

Vol. II. Z decrees

C 338 3

decrees of Providence, could not be beheld
but with aftonifhment ; they fupported
their afflictions without complaint, becaufe
that, according to their faith, all things are
decreed by the Moll High, and nothing
happens but as pre-ordained by his will.
Europeans, lefs refigned, more reftlefs, or,
perhaps, more accuftomed to confide in the
cares'of an adminiftration the province of
which is to provide for all their wants, are
impatient and clamorous during times of
fcarcity ; and, fufpe&ing abufes, which
fuipicions may be fometimes well founded,
they charge their governors with carelefs-
nefs or guilt. Plenty, or fcarcity, never-
thelefs, depend moft evidently on the fer-
tility or intemperance of feafons ; when not
occasioned by monopolies, or the excefs of
exportation and importation.

The miferies the empire of Morocco
underwent, in confequence of the fore-
going evils, made it impoffible for the
Moors to pay their taxes ; the efforts of
commerce Slackened, and the revenues of
the ftates diminifhed in proportion.

Th(

[ 339 J

The roads foon became unfafe, travellers
were obliged to be provided with efcorts,
the provinces were in a ft ate of warfare,
reciprocally to rob each other of what had
efcaped from the ravages of locufts, and
the unfavourablenefs of the feafons. From
the diftridls of Rabat and Sallee to the
Morbeya, the whole of the provinces of
Temfena and Tedla were, for the fpace of
two or three years, expofed to depredations,
which the public calamity might excufe,
fince they were not excited by the fpirit of
fedition. Such troubles, which refemble
paffing ftorms, are foon appeafed, without
the interference of government, when
plenty reftores tranquillity, and once more
cools and bridles the reftlefsnefs and rapa-
city of the people.

In the year 1 783, the Emperor made an
excurfion to Tafilet, with a detachment of
troops ; that city, and its environs, inha-
bited by numerous Sharifs defirous of
power, had for fome time been, expofed to
civil commotions, which were entirely ap-
peafed by the prefence of the fovereign.
Sidi Mahomet levied, in the province and
Z 2 on

[ 34o ]

on the eafrern borders of the greater Atlas,
heavy contributions, to puniih the turbu-
lence of the people.

While the Emperor was at Tafilet, the
whole empire fufFered a great lofs by the
death of Muley Ali, the eldeft of his fons,
who died at Fez, at the age of forty four,
in confequence of a relapfe of a neglected
or ill-cured fever. This prince pofTefTed
all the qualities neceiTary to render his peo-
ple happy ; he had not inherited from his
anceftors that impetuous and cruel charac-
ter which, without conftituting the happi-
nefs of kings, never fails to render nations
miferable. Appointed by his father to the
government of Fez, which is one of the
moil: confiderable in the empire, Muley
had behaved with fo much prudence, and
difintereftednefs, that, the Emperor having
commanded him to render up an account
of all he poffeffed, the city of Fez con-
tented to pay the funi the fovereign exacled,
that the prince might be maintained in his
government, and continue ia the good
graces of his father.

The

[ 34i ]

The difintereftednefs of Muley AH,
which was a very high recommendation
to him among the people, had, perhaps,
weakened the affection of his father, who
had not the fame manner of thinking. Sidi
Mahomet having laid a tax on his fon,
which was to be paid for the benefit of his
brothers, commanded him to raife the fum
required on the community of the Jews?
who, not being, he faid, in the road to fal-
vation, merited no pity. — " Sire," replied
Muley Ali, " the Jews are fo poor that they
" are incapable of fupporting their prefent
" taxes, and it is impoffible I mould exact
" from them new ones. Should you fo
" pleafe, you may difpofe of the revenues
fJ of my government for the benefit of
•' my brothers ; but I earneflly fuppli-
" cate you will not require me to op-
" prefs thefe people, and thus oblige
" me to increafe wretchednefs already
" too great."

Such anecdotes prove with how much

reafon the people regretted the lofs of this

prince. I was well acquainted with his

Z 3 worth ;

[ 342 ]

worth ; the confidence with which he ho-
noured me often made me a witnefs of his
benevolence, and a judge of his heart.

CHAP.

[ 343 1

CHAP. VI.

Char after of the reigning 'Emperor,

i3IDI Mahomet, endowed with pene-
tration and judgement, would have been
fuiceptible of all the high qualities necef-
fary to govern men, had education brought
to perfection thofe gifts which nature had
beftowed. His age is fomewhere about
feventy fix *, his heighth five feet eight

inches

* It is not cuftomary among the Moors to regifter the
birth of children, not even that of princes ; their age is re-
membered by certain accidents, or events, which the parents
commit to memory. A Moor very naturally fays, he was
born in the dry fummer, the wet winter, or mentions any
other fimilar accident.

The reigning Emperor was at Mecca, in 1727, when

Muley Ifhmael died ; he wa$s not then married, and, as he

has always perfectly remembered this journey, it may well

be fuppofed he was at that time about fixteen or eighteen,

Z 4 an4

[ 344 J

inches, his fymmetry tolerable ; he fquints
a little, which gives his afpect fome feve-
rity ; his conftitution being naturally
ftrong, and his mode of life fober and
frugal, his body is become very capable of
fupporting the fatigue of a life fo laborious
as the government of this empire requires.
He is tolerably eafy of accefs ; foreigners
he receives with politenefs, and convenes
with them willingly ; but the cool, ox
warm, reception he gives, alike, are directed
by fome motive of perfonal intereft. His
favour is not conftant, but varies according
as fuch like interefted fenfations vary.

However marked the attachment of Sidi
Mahomet to riches may have been, he has
ieldom employed thofe means, for the accu-
mulation of them, which violence or cru-
elty might have fuggefted. This Emperor
will not leave fo rich a treafury at his de-
ceafe as his love for ceconomy might fore-

and that he muft have been born in or near the year 1710.
This is the mode I have taken to calculate his age, in which
I am confirmed by the cldeft people in the country.

bode*

[ 345 ]

bode, and that becaufe his reign has been
expofed to heavy expences ; his empire,
gradually exhaufted, has no longer in it-
felf the fame refources. Independent of the
heavy fums expended on the fiege of Ma-
zagan, that of Melilla, and the mainte-
nance of his forces, Sidi Mahomet has
alfo built towns and fortreffes, mofques and
public markets, exclufive of his palaces,
which he has embellimed. He like wife
purchafed, in Malta and the Italian ftates,
numerous Mahometan (laves, in 1782, the
greateft part of whom were not his fub-
je<£ts ; and he has further fent to Con-
ftantinople, in 1784, more than fc ir mil-
lion of livres, (or a hundred and fixty-fix
thoufand pounds) which it is fuppofed
he, out of refpecT: to his religion, either
appropriated to the temple of Mecca or the
defence of the Ottoman empire, for which,
knowing the ambition of its neighbours*
he feems to have fome fears.

Covetous as he appears to have been of
wealth, Sidi Mahomet will leave little to
posterity, except thefe monuments of his
devotion, hi? charity, and his precaution,

Mas*

[ 3*<s ]

More humane, more accefiible, and lefs
exigent than his anceftors, Sidi Mahomet
has ever treated the Chriftians, whom the
fate of war has put into his power, with
compaffion, and on fome among them he
has beftowed marks of his confidence.
After the taking of Mazagan, he fent
thirty-eight flaves to the Grand Matter of
the knights of Malta, who were fubjedts
of the Grand Duke of Tufcany, and the
Grand Matter returned a like number of
Moors.

Quick and penetrating, this Emperor
has often made very juft obfervations on
the characters of nations, judging by the
Haves whom he had in his poffeffion, and
who happened to be about his perfon. Per-
ceiving how aclive the French were in
their labours, he chofe them in preference
for the execution of any fudden project ;
obferving, at the fame time, that they were
reftlefs and turbulent, he held it neceflary
they fhould be employed, that they might
neither quarrel among themfelves nor with
the other flaves. It cannot be faid that,
"under his government, flaves have been

worked

[ 347 1
worked to excefs ; it will likewiie be
perceived that monarchs, who number the
ranfom of (laves as one part of their re-
venues, have an intereft in their preferva-
tion.

During thirty years that Sidi Mahomet
has fat on the throne, his reign has been
happy. It would be ram to prophefy what
fliall happen after his death : although it be
true that fimilar caufes will produce fimi-
lar effefts, we muft not always judge of
the future by the paft ; the fmalleft dif-
ference of circumftances, either in the
times, or the characters of thofe men who
head infurre£tions, will change the flate of
things, and decide on the deftiny of na-
tions. Neverthelefs, wThen we behold in
Morocco a multitude of princes, each deli-
rous of governing, each having nearly an
equal claim to govern, it fhould feem that
like diffentions may well again be feared,
and like revolutions to thofe which, under
preceding reigns, fo often have rent this
empire*

The

C 348 ]

The fucceffion is not fixed in Morocco,
either by law or cuftom, but depends
entirely on concurring accidents. It is
well underftood, among the Moors, that the
eldeft fon ought to inherit the crown, be-
caufe that his experience renders him the
mod proper to govern ; but, as there is no
determinate law on this head, and as there
is neither divan nor council in the empire
to deliberate on affairs of ftate, the elec-
tion of the Emperor depends entirely on
chance, on the character of the candidates,
the opinion of the people, the influence of
the foldiery, the fupport of the provinces,
and mod particularly on the poflfeffion of
the treafury. He who has money may have
foldiers, and he who has foldiers can make
himfelf feared.

We have feen that, under Muley Abdal-
lah, one province and one faction would
elect this fovereign, another that ; and like
anarchy may well be expected, whenever
there are a great number of candidates for
the throne ; at leaft, unlefs the governors of
provinces mould all unite to protect one
Vioqe. This is a thing moft difficult to be

accom-

[ 349 3

accomplifhed, among the Moors, where
men do nothing, and where Providence
regulates all.

Of ten or twelve male children, to
whom the Emperor is father, there are
feveral who are capable of government ;
nor can I doubt but that, informed as they
muft be of former revolutions, they all
nfpire with equal confidence to that crown
to which birth, the voice of the people, or
a concatenation of incidents, may give
each an equal right.

C H A R

[ 5SO 3

CHAP. VII.

Of the commercial intercourfe between the
Empire of Morocco and the nations of
Europe.

W HEN the fpirit of induftry began to
effed a change in Europe, in the power of
kingdoms, and the manners of their inha-
bitants, monarchs felt the neceffity of na-
val armaments, and, by their maritime
forces, to fecure to their fubjects the pro-
grefs of their commerce, and the freedom
of the feas.

Before the difcovery of the rout to the
Eaft Indies, round the Cape of Good Hope,
and even for fome time after, Europe had
no communication with Afia, except by
the Mediterranean, and over this fea a con-
fiderable trade was carried on through Spain,

France,

[ 35* ]

France, Italy, the Levant, and the nor-
thern fhores of Africa, which latter, even
at that time, were invaded by bands of
freebooters. Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers,
Morocco, ufurped by multitudes of fol-
diers, whom religion had armed, enemies
as they were of the Chriftian religion,
from bigotry, became (till more fo from in-
tereft ; their inhabitants were poor, little
addi&ed to labour, without commerce, pi-
rates from inclination and neceffity, and
had no means of becoming of fome im-
portance, except by the licentioufnefs of
freebooting.

Europe, which had formerly been armed
againft thefe common enemies by the zeal
of religion, preiently found itfelf divided
in its own political interefts. Nations, am-
bitious of power and of wealth, individu-
ally employed by the efforts of induftiy,
and the barter of their products, confulted
only their individual conveniency, and, in
the hope of acquiring a greater afcendancy
in commercial and maritime affairs, deter-
mined to make treaties with thefe ufurpers
Qf the mores of Africa; which treaties

have

[ 35* ]

have been more or lefs obferved, according
to the opinion entertained of their refpe&ive
force, and the reciprocity of their intereltSc

Such were the motives, fuch the princi-
ples, of friendfhip, between the powers of
Europe and the regencies of Barbary, The
rivality, or the feeblenefs, of fuch com-
mercial nations, occafioned thefe regencies
afterward to acquire thofe means of power,
the difadvantage and incumbrance of which
have fince been fo often felt ; the condi-
tions by which their friendfhip muft be
purchafed have imperceptibly become more
humiliating, more * intolerable, and lefs
liable;

It was not fo much for the promotion of
trade, on the northern fhores of Africa, a$
to favour the growth of maritime power^
and commerce in a different channel* that
the nations of Europe have entered into
thefe friendly treaties with the Barbary re-
gencies, and the empire of Morocco. This
empire i tic lr\ though rich in its native
products, is not capable of any extenfrve
trade i the in ft ability of its laws is an ob-
2 ftael©

[ 353 1

ftacle to the induftry of its inhabitants,
and to the confidence of foreigners. Nei-
ther are the wants of the Moors multi-
plied by their mode of education, or by the
temperature of a climate where nature re-
quires but little ; and imaginary wants
have been further fuppreffed by govern-
ment, which, by depriving the people of
the means of luxury^ muft neceflarily en-
feeble the activity of commerce, of which
luxury is the Primum Mobile.

Thus, fome trifling barter excepted, the
fafety of the fea has been the caufe why
the nations of Europe have made treaties
with the empire of Morocco. I mall fpeak
more particularly of thefe their treaties, and
their interefts, according to the priority of
their dates, and mall beftow a feparate
chapter on thofe that relate to France,

England is the firft power which con-
cluded treaties of friendship and commerce
with the Emperors of Morocco. Being in
poffeflion of Tangiers, which had been
Ceded to her by Portugal in 1662, me oc-

Vol* II. A a cafionally

[ 354 ]

rationally felt thofe inconveniences that
refult . from the turbulency of the Moors,
which lhe overlooked, and even gave up
certain points, that fhe might, with the
greater eafe, maintain the garrifon of that
town, which, becaufe of its diftance, at
length became a burthen to the nation.

England having, even at that time, ac-
quired an exteniive foreign commerce, me
made proportions of peace to Muley Ifh-
mael in 1675, which the caprices and con-
tradictions of that Emperor rendered inef-
fectual. A truce, however, was concluded
for four years in 168 1, but was broken be-
fore the term expired ; the Moors pretended
that the peace had only related to the gar-
rifon of Tangiers, and did not extend to
the protection of the Brit iih flag;

A didinclion like this, worthy an Em-
pire where treachery is native, gave birth
to explanations. Muley Ilhmael fent am-
hafladors to London at the commencement
of the prefent century. This was a new
pretext for new prefents, and the treaty of
peace' was, at length, renewed under

George

[ 355 3

George I. After the death of Muley Wa-
rn ael this treaty was confirmed, and re-
newed, in 1728, by Muley Achmet Daiby,
and a little time after by Muley Ab-
dallah.

The irnmenfe navigation and trade of the
Englifh gave them fufficient motives to
make peace with the Emperor of Mo-
rocco ; and they had further a political rea-
fon, which was, to re- victual* with frefli
provisions, their garrifon of Gibraltar with
facility, which place has been under their
government from the beginning of the pre-
lent century. Sidi Mahomet, more intel-
ligent than his predecefibrs, has derived all
poffible profit from this circumftance ; and
the Englim nation, haughty, jealous, and
ever ready to take offence, has continued, and
(till continues, to overlook all that inequality
of conduct to which the fpirit of avarice
gives birth, on the part of the court of Mo-
rocco* The Engliih have long maintained
a trade on the coaft of that empire, where
they fell eoarfe cloths* ferges, linens, pew-
ter, lead, mercer's commodities, and the
iron which their mips bring from Bifcay.
A a 2 They

[ 35* 1

They receive in return fometimes oils,
gums, wax, elephants-teeth, and have
often lent, in French bottoms, to Mar-
feilles, oils, raw hides, and wool, the con-
fumption of which is greater in our fou-
thern provinces than among the more
northern nations.

They have alfo exported a number of
Mules to North America ; but the dif-
memberment of that part of their domi-
nions has greatly decreafed their trade with
Morocco, which before was not very con-
fiderable. England can only have a con-
fined trade with Morocco, not having a luf-
ficient market for the commodities (he re-
turns. The commercial relations which exift
between kingdoms always depend on their
mutual wants, and the facility with which
barter can be made to mutual advantage.

In 1732 an ambafiador was fent by Mu-
ley Abdallah into Holland, and the repub-
lic then made its peace with that Emperor;
but the revolutions by 'which his reign was
diflurbed gave but little liability to the
treaty. Holland was the full: power which

renewed

[ 357 ]
renewed treaties of peace with Sidi Maho-
met, who then was only prince and go-
vernor of Saffi, but who, being the fole
heir of the empire, had arrogated to him-
felf the chief part of the authority. In-
dependent of the fafety of navigation,
Holland had further a political motive,
which was early to make peace with the
Emperor, that me might the better profit
by her neutrality during the war of i 755.

Having been informed that this republic
treated the regency of Algiers with greater
generofity than himfelf, Sidi Mahomet
complained of the States General; and,
notwithftanding the compliance that was
fhewn, the Emperor declared waragainft the
Dutch toward the end of 1774, pretend-
ing that an extraordinary prefent, which
they had fent him, and which he kept, was
not fufficiently magnificent.

The republic fent numerous veffels into
the Straits for the proteftion of trade and
navigation ; few of them appeared upon
the coaft, and that fo feldom that the cor-
fairs of Morocco took three Dutch mips,
A a 3 two

[ 358 ]

two of them as they left the port of San
Lucar, within fight of Cadiz, Thefe ad-
vantages were counterbalanced by the lofl.es
of the Emperor of Morocco, A Dutch
frigate, which did but begin to chace two
Corfairs of Sallee, caufed them to be {hip-
wrecked, even without following them,
the one at the entrance of the river of
Laracha, and the other at the mouth of
that of Mamora. Holland renewed the
peace in 1778, was more generous in her
gifts, and, if fo fhe mall pleafe, may con-
tinue it by the like means,

Holland carries 911 a certain trade with
the coail of Morocco, and cuflom has al-
moft rendered her importations neceflary.
She there vends quantities of Sikfian
linens, called platillas, many of the coarfe
linens of the Baltic, and others, fome few
fpices, drugs, tea, timber, iron of Bifcay,
and quantities of the cutlery and mercery
wares of Germany.

Holland receives from the coaft of Mo-
rocco, hi return, fometimes oils, wax,
gums, and elephants-teeth ; but, as thofe

returns,

E 359 ]

returns, which fuit the Dutch merchants,
are infufficient to balance the quantity of
merchandize they fend thither, they have
almo-ft continually profited by the facility
with which they c?ji run for the French
ports, to fend oils to Marfeilles, wools, and
raw hides, which there find a readier fale
than in the north. Had not Holland this
liberty, (ho would imperceptibly have been
obliged to renounce a trade, which mull
have become difadvantageous, when fhe
could no longer freight her (hips by barter,
pr be paid in money,

The court of Denmark began to nego-
tiate with Sidi Mahomet in 1755. That
kingdom Is fo diftant from Morocco that
the Daniih miniftry had not any juft ideas
concerning the government of this empire.
Deceived by a Jew, who was the inftru-
ment and interpreter of the negotiations
of Denmark, fhe fuppofed fhe might,
without impediment, build a fortrefs at
Santa Cruz, that fhe might there protect
a mercantile fettlement, which fhe intend-
ed to eftablifh. The Jew agent difguifed
the intentions of the court of Denmark;
A a 4 nor

C 360 ]

nor was there any knowledge in Morocco
of the intended fort, till the materials for
building it were landed. The Emperor,
offended at feeing himtelf treated like the
princes of Senegal, imprifoned the ambaf-
fador of Denmark, and his retinue, pre-
tending he would treat them as flaves.
Some time was neceflary to re&ify this
miftake. Denmark again undertook to
negotiate in 1757, a ranfom was agreed
upon, new p relents wrere made, and a new
peace concluded.

The late king of Denmark, occupied by
commercial projects, gave his con fen t at
that time for the forming of a royal Afri-
can company, which, on paying an annual
tribute of fifty thoufand piaftres, obtained
from the Emperor of Morocco the exclu-
five-commerce of his coair, for the term of
ten years, in the ports of Sallee and of Saffi,
where two mercantile fcttlements were
made. The oppreffions and embarraflments
which this monopoly incited, the expences
occailoned by the forming of thefe efta-
blifhments, and the want of oeconomy in
feme foreien directors, to whom the ad-

mini it rat ion

C 36' ]

niiniftration of the company's affairs were
confided, rendered this attempt unfuccefs-
ful. The monopoly extended only to the
ports of Saffi and Sallee, the trade of
which declined in confequence of other
eftablifhrnents, at the ports of Mogodor
and Laracha, whither, by lefi^mng the
duties of the cuitoms, the Emperor I
drawn the chief products of his do:
which freighted the returning I ... :ean
fhips.

This company, befide, were merely con-
cerned in a carrying trade, as uncertain iq
its fuccefs as ill judged in its princir^_s.
Denmark itielf contains no product necef-
fary for the coaft oi viorocco, nor can the
produ&s of that empire rind ?ny market in
Denmark ; fo that this ccmr -ny was but a
clog upon the induftry of the intermediate
nations, and could derive no other advan-
tage than that of affording employment to
fome Danifh (hips, which often arrived on
the coaft of Morocco loaded, and returned
empty back. The Daniih African com-
pany foon jaw its capital funk by ill-timed
Speculations, and by the gifts which the

compli*

C 36* ]

compliance of its directors, and the necef-
Sty of fatisfying the Emperor, did but
multiply.

This company continued bufied in the
liquidation of its debts, after the acceffion
of Chriftian VII. to the throne of Den-
mark; it was fuppreffed in 1767, at which
time the court of Denmark freed itfelf
from the annual burthen of fifty thoufand
piaflres, a price paid for a monoply, which
the royal African company ought to have
enjoyed, but did not. The Danes only,
however, could obtain the continuation of
peace by annually paying the fum of
twenty-five thoufand piaflres, Denmark
has not itfelf any direct trade with that coafb

The Swedes concluded peace with the
Emperor of Morocco in 1763. The pre-
fent Sweden lent confided of cannon, mails,
and timber ; fhe likewife agreed to make
an annual prefent of twenty-thoufand pi-
aftres, which fhe meant to pay in her own
native products, but which the Emperor
infifted on receiving in ready money. In the
year 1 77 1, Guftavus III., who then

afcended

[ 3h 3

afcended the throne of Sweden, refilled all
kind of tribute, referving to himfelf the
liberty of making voluntary prefents, with-
out any determinate time or value. It was,
at length, agreed, as a means of continu-
ing the former good understanding be-
tween the courts, that the king of Swe-
den mould fend an ambafiador and a pre-
lent once in two years, to the Emperor of
Morocco. The Swedes have no commer-
cial intercourfc with this empire.

The republic of Venice made peace
with the Emperor of Morocco in 1765.
She fent a very handfome prefent in mo-
ney, and agreed to pay an annual tribute of
about a hundred thoufand livres, (or up-
ward of four thoufand pounds.) This re-
public having treated the regency of Al-
giers ftill more liberally, the Emperor was
offended at the diftinclion, and fent a Ge-
noefe, who was in his fervice, to Venice to
complain. His envoy having been received
with great coolnefs by the ^Senate, and
having returned writh an anfwer that did
not fatisfy Sidi Mahomet, he gave further
tokens of his difcontent to the republic in

1780,

[ 3*4 ]

1 780, and, inventing certain imputation?*
obliged the Venetian conful to depart from
his flates ; but the republic having acqui-
efced in the wifhes of the Emperor, in

1 78 1, the conful returned, and was very
favourably received at the court of Mo-
rocco. Thp republic of Venice has no
commercial intercourfe with this empire,
and therefore, like the courts of Denmark
and Sweden, pays this tribute folely for
the fafety of navigation.

The court of Spain, as well as that of
France, made peace with the Emperor of
of Morocco in 1767. Sidi Mahomet was
the fiiil to fend an ambaffador to Spain, an4
affecled to give this kingdom fo much the
preference that the confidence placed in
his profeffions were too great. After hav-
ing received very high proofs of the ge-
nerofity of the court of Spain, and having,
in fome meafure, difpofed of his arfenals
for the repair of her fhips, this monarch
took occafion to deftroy the good harmony
which then exifted between the two
powers, without breaking the peace,
which, according to him, was merely con-
fined

C 3*5 3

fined to the liberty of navigation. He
marched with an army, about the end of
1774, to lay liege to Melilla, which place,
inftead of defending, he fuppofed Spain
would abandon.

This proceeding, contrary to the faith
of treaties, was the occafion of a rupture,
between the court of Spain and that of
Morocco. The Moor, having failed in his
enterprize, took every poffible means to re-
efiabliih peace ; but the court of Madrid,
deeply refenting his conduct, deferred
concluding any treaty, and was fatisfied
with remaining in a kind of truce.

The quarrel between France and Eng-
land having changed the political fituation
of Europe, the court of Spain thought
that a favourable moment to treat with the
Emperor of Morocco ; and Sidi Mahomet
renewed peace, in 1780, by the mediation
of his ambaffador, Ben-Otman, eagerly ac-
quiefcing in whatever the Spanifli court
•demanded. The Emperor not only con-
sented to reftife revictualing the garrifon of
Gibraltar, the fiege of which was medi-
tated

[ J# ]

fated by Spain, but the Spaniards were, in
a manner, mailers of Tangiers, where they
victualed their army, and which place
ierved as an afylum to fuch of their (hips
as were {rationed near the Straits. Their
polls of obfervation beyond the caflle, and
as far as Cape Spartel, were fo well regu-
lated, that their fignals from place to place
communicated along the whole coafl of
Andalufia.

Their can be no continued trade between
the coaft of Spain and that of Morocco,
for the corn trade, which varies according
to circumftances and feafons, mufl only be
conlidered as cafual. The products of
Morocco* their proviiions excepted, are
wholly ufelefs in Spain ; nor dees Spain
itfelf afford many articles of confumption
for Morocco* cocbineal excepted, which is
ufed to dye Morocco leather, and the ex-
clufive trade in which the Emperor hasre-
ferved to himfelf. The iron of Bifcay,-
and the Barcelona handkerchiefs, which
are in general u'fe, might, indeed, be im-
ported , but foreign nations buy up the
f.rft in exchange for their ieveral products,

and

[ 3*7 )

and the trade in the fecond is not of fuffi-
cient extent to maintain a continual inter-
courfe.

For fome years after the peace, conluded
in 1767, the harvefts having failed in
Spain, the Spaniards bought up confider-
able quantities of wheat and barley on the
coaft of Morocco. This, however, was a
forced trade, and not reciprocal ; they took
their money thither to buy provifions,
poultry, and fruits, wherewith to fupply
Andalufia, where, becaufe of the heat of
the climate, men are little inclined to la-
bour, and where the inequality of the fea-
fons renders their harvefts very uncer-
tain.

Politically confidered, this trade Was
only advantageous to the Emperor of Mo-
rocco, fince Spain was not on ly dependent on
■him for fupplies,but that, like wife, the faci-
lity with wrhich thefe fupplies were obtained
did but further increafe the indolence of
the farmers of Andalufia. Hence refulted
a great circulation of piaftres in the empire
of Morocco, and} perhaps, two million of
2 iivres

[ 363 ]

livres (or upward of eighty thoufarrd
pounds fterling) of increafe to the revenue.
Between the years 1770 and 1774, Spain
tranfported from Morocco quantities of
wheat and barley ; but fhe again rendered
the very fame aid to Morocco, from 1779
to 1781, when a part of that empire was
afflicled by famine.

In February, 1769, the court of Por-
tugal loft the town of Mazagan, on the
weftern fide of Morocco, which it had
preferved, and where the arms and the
commerce of Portugal were fo eminently
fuccefsful at the beginning of the lixteenth
century. This town, fi tuated in the centre
of a fertile province, clandeftinely fup-
plied Portugal with fome provifions and
cattle* After the lofs of Mazagan, the
court of Lilbon, defirous of pofleffing its
former refources, and wishing to acquire
greater fafety for its flag and guard its fhips
from the corfairs of Morocco, to which the
peace between Spain and Morocco gave
more frequent opportunities of approach to
the coaft of Portugal, thought proper, jn
1773, *° conclude, a treaty with the Em-

peror.

C 369 1

peror. There is no continued trade be*
tween Portugal and Morocco, and the iri-
tercourfe of the two courts is (imply con-
fined to teftimonies of friendship. The
Emperor of Morocco fends a few horfes,
and many compliments, to the court of
Lifbon, which returns demonftrations of
good will fomewhat more fubftantiau

o

Toward the end of the year 1782, Sidi
Mahomet fent an ambaffador into Tufcany,
who, in 1783, departed thence for Vienna
to conclude a peace with both thefe courts ;
but the trade between Morocco and thefe
nations is only accidental, and the treaty
has no other utility than that of the fafety
of navigation for Tufcan and Imperial
mips, and of thus giving a greater degree of
ftability to commerce, which thefe powers
wim to encourage throughout their ftates.

The republic of Genoa enjoys only a
kind of truce with the empire of Morocco,
which is wholly unfupported by any treaty.
A Jew fubjecl: of Morocco, whofe name
was Ben-Amor, made a voyage to Genoa

Vol. II. B b by

[ 37° 1

by order of his matter, and treated with a
noble Genoefe concerning commercial con-
nexions with the Emperor, who on this
occafion, voluntarily made very great ad-
vances. The fenator formed a commercial
company, and fen this agents, in 1 769, with
fplendid prefents, and a numerous train.
This company enjoyed a momentary fame,
and afterward as fliddenly declined. It
did but refemble a flafh of lightning in a
clouded and gloomy night.

The Emperor of Morocco, thus at peace
with the principal commercial nations, and
defirous of being ib with all the Chriftian
powers, hoping thereby to extend the com-
merce of his empire, and to profit by the
rival fpirit of nations, publicly manifetted*
by letters, in 1777, " That he granted
*' entire liberty to all (hips to trade with,.
" and enter, his ports, being defirous of
" peace with the whole world/' This
o-eneral notice produced no effecl, either
becaufe thofe nations which it moft
interefted had not fnfficient confidence in his
promifes, or becaufe they wanted fuch pro-
duds and refources as w7ere neceffary to

maintain

[ 37i ]

maintain a trade with the coaft of Mo-
rocco.

Notwithstanding that the Emperor had
declared he held himfelf to be at peaC6 with
all Europe, he neverthelefs pronounced a
mip from Ragufn, taken by one of his cor-
fairs, in 1779, a legal capture. The cargo,
worth more than a hundred thoufandlivres,
(or upward of four thoufand pounds) was
the property of the Maltefe, and was con*
fifcated; and yet, from fome inexplicable
caprice, the Maltefe failors were refcored to
their freedom, while thofe of Ragufa were
made flaves*

The difpute this occafioned, and which
Was rendered ftill more intricate by a di-
verfity of interefts, was very tedious, and
liable to numerous incongruities* The
Ottoman Porte claimed the failors of Ra-
gufa as its vaflais, and by the fams title
protected the freedom of the Ragufan flacr.
The difpatches of the Porte, written in
the Turkifh language, although the Moors
could not read them, Were nor received
with the.lefs deference; the Ragufan fai-
B y % lors,

[ 372 ]

Jors, detained in flavery, were reftored to
the Envoy of the republic, and the Em-
peror dictated fuch terms of peace as Ra-
gufa could neither accept nor durft refufe.
The fufpence and inconveniences that arofe
gave occafion to new explanations, which
did not filence the fears of the Senate of
Ragufa ; a flate fo feeble, and in fo preca-
rious a fituation, can enjoy but little cer-
tainty.

The United States of North America,
after fecuring their independence by wife
laws, and concluding various commercial
treaties with the powers of Europe, were
further defirous of adding new means of
advantage, and increafe, to their intfuftry
and navigation. In confequence of this,
they, during the year 1786, profiting by
the pacific difpofition which the Emperor
of Morocco announced to all commercial
nations, concluded a treaty of peace with
this monarch.
*

CHAP.

I 373 1

CHAP. VIII.

Of the commercial inter courfe between the
kingdom of France, and the empire of

Morocco.

IN the beginning of the prefent century,
France was poffeffed of colonies, manu-
factures, mercantile eftablifhments, in fo-
reign nations, and a maritime commerce,
which, in its birth, betokened the extent
of which it was fufceptible, from na-
tional induftry, and the vigilance of the
miniftry ; her navigation began to appear
refpeclable, in confequeiice of her naval
forces, under the reign of Louis XIV. ;
but the wars (he was obliged to maintain,
toward the concluiion of this reign, greatly
retarded the progrefs of her foreign trade.

B b 2 So

( 374 ]

So rapid was the growth of this trade,
under the fallowing reign, that her rivals,
j :alous of the empire of the fea, took um-
brage at her maritime profperity. The late
fuccefsof her arms has effaced the remem-
brance cf thofe humiliations to which me
was fubjefted, in confequence of the war
of 1756; and the influence which this fuc-
cefs ought naturally to acquire fhould,
each returning day, give new flrength to
her commerce.

The firft efforts of France to extend her
navigation incited the cupidity of the re-
gencies of Barbary, that were in the neigh-
bourhood of her fouthern ports. After
having feveral times chaftifed their teme-
rity, France, at length, made peace with
Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. She alio
held momentary negotiations with Muley
Jfhmael, but found no poflible means of
fixing the wavering temper of that Em-
peror, and of obviating thofe difficulties
which might well be feared from his want
of good faith. This monarch being dead,
the empire of Morocco, become the prey
of rebellions, was continually changing

its

[ 375 1

its matters. Its ports, alfo, were under the
government of particular and local laws,
and the difficulties of treaties of peace
were increafed, becaufe that, during a ftate
of fuch anarchy, it was impoffible toaffign
any duration to fuch treaties.

Thefe obftacles were removed when
Sidi Mahomet afcended the throne, and
France profited by the difpofitions of this
Emperor to enter on new negotiations ; but
they were fubjedr, to io much incertitude,
andfo many variations, that, in order ulti-
mately to bring the Moor to a firm deter-
urination, (he thought proper, in 1765, to
fend a fquadron, of one fhip of the line,
eight frigates, three zebecks, one bark,
and two bomb ketches, to the weftern coaffc
of Morocco. This fquadron, of greater
force than was neceflary, was impeded by
a concatenation of circumftances, which
were not fdfficiently forefeen, becauie a
fufficient knowledge of the coaft had not
been obtained. The bomb ketches played
upon Rabat and Sailee with little fuccefs.
The fquadron next proceeded to Laracha ;
the frigates occafioned a coriair to be
B b 4 ftranded

C 37^ 1

ftranded upon the coaft, and the fmaller
veflelsof the fquadron, after being detained
two or three nights by a diverfity of opi-»
inons among the captains, and the diffi-
culties of the paffage, at length entered the
river of Laracha, and there burned a fhip.

This advantage was balanced by the
lofs of many brave men. Obliged, in the
river, to give battle to a multitude of
Moorifh foldiers, who had had time to af-
femble, becaufe of the delays to which this
expedition had been fubjecled, the French
loft near twro hundred men on that occa-
fion, forty-five of whom were made flaves,
without enumerating the wounded. But
this lofs was no fufficient counterpoife to
that of the Emperor of Morooco, many of
whofe foldiers alfo fell. This monarch
was enabled to judge, by the valorous de-
fence of the French, that, on fome future
opportunity, this valour might be more
fucceisful, and he propoied a fufpenfion of
arms, A truce was, at length, agreed on,
and this truce was prolonged that recipro-
cal explanation might be more precife.
The preliminaries of peace were defini-
tely

[ 377 3

tively concluded toward the end of the
year 1 766, by the intervention of the Sieur
Jean Jacques Salva, a French merchant,
fettled at Saffi.

In the fpring of 1767, the Comte de
Breugnon, a captain in the navy, was ap-
pointed ambaflador to conclude the peace,
and failed to Saffi with a fquadron under
his command. The Comte took with him
a prefent, worthy of the magnificence of
his monarch, for the Emperor of Morocco.
The French flag was faluted at Saffi by the
whole artillery of the caflle ; and the am-
baflador met. on fhore, and during the reft
of his voyage, the moft diftinguimed re-
ception, according to the cultom of thofe
people.

France, however, had proof that, though
the character of a nation may vary ac-
cording to circumftances, in reality it is
ever the fame. At the very moment when
the Moors made thofe warm, profeffions,
which an intereftcd court will ever teflify
for its new friends, a corfair of the Em*
ixM'or took three French merchant mips in

the

[ 3/3 1

the St raits, which, though there was no
difficulty in proving the injury, were fome-
tin:e before thev were reftored. The Em-
peror difclaimed this acl of hoftility, and
the corfair was condemned never to fail
ir.-jre. The figning of the peace was it-
felf delayed, becaufe that explanations
were neeefiary, and the preliminaries,
which had been agreed on between the
two courts, and fent to Verfailles, written
m Arabic, to be ligned, wrere laid afide :
proceedings were all again to be begun,
and the treaty, concerning which the' two
powers had been mutually agreed, was
once mere to be difcuffed, and almoft
wholly altered,

Previous to the peace between France
and Morocco, the French had two mer-
cantile eftablifhments fettled there on the
faith of aiylum. After the peace their
mercantile houfes became numerous. This
was the error of the French ; there were
too many of them for the trade, and their
numbers were not only injurious to their
own interefts but, probably, excited the
avarice of the Emperor, who, eft i mating

the

[ 379 J

the advantages of their trade by their ea-
gernefs, was defirous it might become
more profitable to himfelf, and therefore
impofed heavier duties. The trade then
began to decline ; merchants were difcou-
raged by thefe new (hackles, by rules which
defpotifm prefcribed, by the neceffity of
conforming to thefe rules, by the removal
of their trade from one port to another,
and by all the various means which the
abufe of power, the fpirit of avarice,
and the convenience of the moment, could
fuggeft.

France, perhaps, is the only nation which
is capable to maintain an uninterrupted
trade with the empire of Morocco, mutu-
ally beneficial. She is enabled herfel.f to
fupply all the wants of that empire, and
the produces of M )rocco find at Marfeilles
a more certain i at any other port.

According to the beft and moft exacl in-
formation, it is d monftrated that her
trade, on the coa of Morocco, might not
only become capable of increafe, but that
the reciprocal conveniences, which muft
refult to the two powers by the barter of

their

[ 3*5° ]

their refjxftive products, ought to be con*
ildered as a political motive for the mutual
maintenance cf peace.

If France, by living in good harmony
with Morocco, fliould unite to the benefits
of commerce that of the faiety of her flag,
Morocco would, on her part, acquire a very
effential advantage from this connection,
by the great facility with which (he could
vend her native products, which conftitute
the fole wealth of nations, and the ulti-
mate refources of a ftate. It muff be
acknowledged that, at firft, it would not be
poflible to give any degree of liability to
this trade, becaufe of the difficulty there
muff, be of fixing the ideas of a defpot,
whofe motives all originate in momentary
conveniences, on any determinate point.
This, however, may be remedied in time ;
wants and circumfcances everywhere pre-
ferine laws, and every where, foon or late,
teach men the neceflity of conforming to
thefe laws.

France would in fen (illy and exclufively
ei gfofs the trade of Morocco, if, profiting

by

£ 3*i 1

by her advantages, (he mould fubject that
trade to the fame laws which have fo fuc-
cefsfully procured her the exclusive trade of
the Levant, and the republics of Barbary.
Endeavours at improvement, and, perhaps,
the fpirit of innovation, have caufed the
voice of freedom to raife itfelf agamft pro-*
hibitory laws. Such laws may be wrong,
in particular cafes ; but the application of
this rule mould not be univerfal ; they
may, in general, be beneficial to a nation,
which, pofleffed of native products and co-
lonies, having a maritime force to preferve,
manufacturers to encourage, and multitudes
of workmen to employ, is in te re fled to
procure to itfelf, excluiively, fuch branches
of commerce as may beft obtain thefe ends.
She would act contrary to her interefts,
were (he to fuffer her rivals to become the
carriers of her products, while they refufe
her a fimilar and reciprocal freedom.

The French vend, on the coaft of Mo-
rocco, much of the linnen of Brittany, and
of other places, fome raw filk for the ma-
nufactures of Fez, unfpun cotton, Bifcay
iron, common papers, mercery goods, fome

f:W

[ 3S2 ]

filks, cloths, fugars, and coffee, and as
much fulphur as the Emperor requires*
the trade in which he has referved to him-
felf.

They receive in exchange, wool, oil,
rawhides, wax, gums, and elephants' teeth*
The balance, being againft France, is paid
in SpaniiTi piaftres, or in merchandize
brought from fome foreign nations ; yet
we ought not to fuppofe the trade of Mo-
rocco difadvantageous to France, fmce (he
does not fend her (hips thither for obje&s
of luxury, but iupplies neceffary to her
manufactures, and fach as may animate
national induitry, by renewing the mate-
rials cf exportation, and procuring the
commodities of trade and commerce.

After having explained the commercial
intercourfe of the European nations with the
empire of Morocco, enumerated what fhac-
kles are impofed by government, and what
refult from local circumftances, I think it
proper to {peak a word concerning the cuf-
torn which the Emperors of Morocco have in
fuffering the (hips of nations, with whom

they

[ 333 ]

are at war, to trade to their coaft. This
political toleration appears to do honour to
thefe monarchs ; but the abfurdity of the
Europeans, in making ufe of this permif-
fion, is not the lefs evident, lince Morocco
enjoys the double advantage of trade and of
piracy.

Neither can it be faid Europe, in this
refpec~t,has a like advantage, for there is the
following difference. The empire of Morocco
cannot fupply its own wants, yet has the
balance in its favour, by its commerce with
Europe; therefore it grants the freedom
of its ports only from neceffity, and that it
may difencumber itfelf of products, for
which it has no confumption, and receive
others, of which it is in abfolute need.
Hence, it would be much wifer3 were the
European nations, efpecially thofe that
find the quickeft market for the products'
of Morocco, to renounce this freedom, and
to avail themfelves of the neceffity of that
empire to barter its commodities, and
thereby oblige it to remain quiet. For one
nation to fupply another, with which it is
at war. and to carry on a trade beneficial

* at

to

[ 3H 3

to that other, is, by fair deduction, to
pay tribute, without enjoying the advan*
tages of pease.

C H A P.

[ 3*5 1

CHAR IX,

Cuftom-houje duties, corns, weights, and
meafures.

X HE duties, coins, weights, and mea-
fures, in Morocco, are almoft as variable as
the opinion of the Emperor ; yet, notwith-
standing this fluctuation, I have thought
proper to terminate my obfervations, on
what concerns this empire, by giving an
abftra£t of their prefcnt ftate.

The duties of exportation and importa-
tion have been much altered. Thofe of
importation, which are paid in effects, and
not in money, have rifen from eight to fif-
teen per cent., iron excepted,, which pays
the fourth, or the third, of its value. Thofe
of exportation, which I have feverai times

Vol, IL C c feen

C 336 ]

feen raifed, are entirely arbitrary ; the ar-
ticles do not each pay in the fame propor-
tion. The duties on fome amount to as
much as the prime-coil:.

Merchant (hips are fubje&ed to an an-
chorage duty, which has alfo undergone
many variations ; neither is this duty the
fame in all the ports of the coaft, which
ports do not all equally enjoy the freedom
of trade and navigation.

The coins, which are current over the
coaft of Morocco, are thofe of the Em-
peror, and thofe of Spain. The coins of
the Emperor are in gold, filver, and copper.
Their feveral values are not fixed, but the
variations, to which they are fubjedt, do not
there influence the price of provilions and
goods," as they would in Europe, where
money is properly confidered only as the
fvmbol of wealth.

The gold ducat, which is very fcarce,

and therefore little in circulation, is worth

fifteen ounces, which correfppnds to ten

1 French

t 3S7 1

French livres, or eight and four pence
Engliftn

The filver money is the current ducat,
the ounce, and the blanquil. The cur-
rent ducat is worth ten ounces, the ounce
four blanquils, and the blanquil twenty-
four flus. The flus is the only current
copper coin. The value of the blanquil is
three fous four denier s of France, or nearly
{even farthings Engliih ; confequently the
ounce is worth thirteen fous four deniers,
or fix pence three farthings, and the ducat
fix livres thirteen fous four deniers, or five
ihillings and fix pence three farthings ?•
The Spanifh piaftre is current in trade, and
in general its value is fixed ; it may, how-
ever, vary according to the convenience of
the Emperor, and the intereil he may
have to render piaftres fcarce or common.

The weights, by which they buy and fell
in Morocco, are equivalent to the weights

* The Englifh is the third part of a farthing above the
rxaft eftimaJte in all thefe three cafes. T.

C c z of

C 388 ]

of Paris ; that is to fay, to the Folds de
marc, or pound of fixteen ounces ; the
fubdivifions of which are, at both places,
the fame. Merchandize is in general fold
by the quintal of one hundred pounds ;
but fome commodities are fold by the great

quintal, or one hundred and fifty pounds.

1

Corn is meafured, after different man-
ners, along the coaft of Morocco. In the
fouthern provinces, known by the name
of the kingdom of Morocco, wheat is fold
by the Garara and the Mood, which is the
modus of the ancients, whence the French
have derived their Muid, The garara con-
tains forty mood, and the mood weighs
from eighteen to twenty pounds ; hence
the garara muft be nearly eight hundred
weight. In the kingdom of Fez, from
Sallee to the north, corn is fold by the
Saffa, the Sab ah, and the Mood. Four
mood make one fahah, and fixty mood one
faffa; hence, the mood weighing from
eighteen to twenty pounds, the weight of
the faffa muft be twelve quintals. Three
fahah, or twelve mood, are nearly equiva-
lent to the meafure of Marfeilles, called the
1 charge,

[ 3*9 ]

charge, which alio nearly correfponds to
the Setier of Paris. It is neceffary to ob-
ferve that the corn meafures are liable to
be varied, according to the will of the
Emperor.

The meafure by which cloths, Jinen,
and woollen, are fold, is called coode,
which is the cubit of the ancients. The
coode, which is in ufe throughout all the
empire, and which never varies, contains
nineteen iuches four lines. There are
forty-four inches in a French ell, confe-
quently two coodes'and a quarter are equal
to an ell, the fradion of half an inch ex-
cepted.

THE END,

C c 3

[ 391 1

INDEX.

A.

XTlBDA, province of, I. 9.
Abdalharaman, revolt of, II. 4$.
Abdallah, firit of the Benimerins, II. 36.

_ . fon of Abu Said, reign of, II. 49'

. aflaffinated, II. 50,

Abdallah, Muley, fon of Muley Ifhmael, generofity of,
II. 242.

, perfuaded not to deftroy Fez, II. 243.

; — defeated by the Brebes, II. 244.

. barbarous maxim of, Ibid.

. cruelty of, II. 245.

. money promifed by, to the Negroes, II.

246.

infurgents quelled by, Bid.
clothes the naked, II. 247.
general, bafely put to death by, Ibid.
performs the office of executioner, IbiJ.
obliges people of all ranks to build the

walls of Mequinez, II. 248.
. ■ projeft of, to fubjedt the Negroes, II. 2 50.

depofed, II. 251."

flight of, Ibid.

_. firft reiteration of, II. 255.

-— »— ■ hatred of, to Selim Dooquelli, Ibid.

_ «. depofed the dayof his ele^ion, II. 5 £7.

C c 4 Abdallah,

[ 39* ]

Abdallah, Muley, frantic cruelty of, II. 258.

■ artifice of, to amufe the Negroes, II. 259

• obliged to fell his horfes, arms, and

jewels, II. 260.

" — fecond flight of, II. 262.

— — a fourth time proclaimed, II. 265.

■ ■ ■ projects of, againft the Negroes, Ibid.

_ recalled by the Negroes, II. 267.

■ a fixth time Emperor, II. 270.

, . anecdote of the juflice of, II. 273.

, ■ not inimical to Chriftians. II. 274.

— allows the redemption of flaves, Ibid.

few children of, II. 278.

" ■ ■ character of, II. 286.

— — — — anecdotes of the cruelty of, II. 287.
— — — Saints defpifed by, II. 288.

Abdelmeleck, fon of Ifhmael, made a governor, II. 224.

— artful behaviour of, II. 22$.

» a ftrict obferver of the Koran, II. 232.

■ . ■ — impolitic declaration of, II. 234,

defeated by the Negroes, II. 235.

■ again proclaimed Emperor, II. 237.

— — religious barbarity and character of, II. 238.

_ — flight of, from Mequinez, II. 239.

i. — belieged in Fez. Ibid.

_ — ftrangled, II. 240.

Abdelmeleck, Muley, firft Emperor,. IT. 103.

>, — -. — » — *— character of, Ibid.

» , — , 1 aflamnated when drunk, II. 104.

Abdulmomen, acts of, II. 21 to 25.
Abdulmomen, Muley, aflaffinated, II. 96.
Abu-Artab, II. 41.

Abu-Hennon, rebellion and reign of, II. 46.
Abul-HalTen, II. 41.

• fubjects Tremecen, SugulmefTa, Algiers, and

Tunis, II. 42.

Abul-

[ 393 1

Abul-HafTen, defeated near Rio Salado, II. 44.

< - — fleet of, defeated, II. 45.

Abu -Said, reign of, II. 40.

> fucceflbr of Abu-Hennon, II. 47.

■ aflaffinated, II. 49.
Abu-Tcffifin, II. 13.

Achica, intoxicating properties of, II. 255.

Acorns, remarkable, I. 104.

Aclon, Chevalier, remarkable action of, I. 318.

Africa, interior, and Morocco ancient trade between3 2.

108, 324.
Agmet, city of, I. 55, 64,
Aguadir, orcapeAguer, I. 47*

■ Toma, city of, I. 54.

Alcaid, foot of an, cut off by Muley Arfhid, II. 146.
Alcafiar, batrle of, II. 99.
Alcaffer-Quiber, city of, I. 83.

— remarkable ftory of Its foundation. I. 84

Alcaffar-Seguar, built by Almonfor, II. 29.
Algerines defeat Muley Ifhmael, II. 211.
Algefira, rebuilt by Ben-Jofeph, II. 40.

taken by Abdeimeleck, II. 42.

retaken, II. 45.

Algiers and Morocco jealous of each other, I. 304.

■ letter of the Divan of, to Muley Ifnmael, II. 19 c.
Alhabid, El-Monfor, II. 10.

AH, fon of Jofeph Teffifin, II. 19.
Ali, Soliman, II. 124.
Almedina, ruins of, I. 37.
Almond harveft, I. 103.
Almonfor, acts of, II. 28 to 33.

■ • cities founded by, II. 29.

■ ■ faying of, II. 32.
' — ftrange difappearance of, II. 33,

Alms, giving, I. 198, 199.
Alphonfo III. vanquiflied, II, 31,

Alphonf©

[ 394 j

Alphonfo X.— II. 39.

AmbaiTador bare-footed, anecdote of, I. 34.9.
Ambaflfadors fent from Morocco to France, II. 200,
Amulets, I. 2 co.

Ana-fa, or Dar Beyda, town of, I. 36.
Anchorage, the bcft, in the road of Sallee, I* 34.
Anecdote, vide Abdallah Muley, Alcaid, Alcaffar, Ambaf-
fador, AfTafiin, Avarice, Bofville, Butcher, Can-
non, Captive, Chriftian, Coofcoofoo, Cruelty,
Fim, Gallant, Governor, Ifhmael, Lela, Liar,
Lion, Marabout, Mazagan, Meffiah, Moors,
Mofque, Muley Arfliid, Muley Daiby, Negro
.Slave, Prayer, Pudding, Renegado, Saint, Storks,
Spaniard, Thieves, Teeth, Walnuts.
Antelope, I, 170.
Appeals to the Emperor, I. 216.
Apples, enchanted, I. 37c-.
Aqueducts, rude, at Morocco, I. 63.
Arabic, the language of Morocco, I. 241.

« the moil extenfive of living languages, I. 242.

Arbiba, palace of, built by Muley Abdallah, II. 273.
Arga tree, and its almond,- 1. 102.

. oil of, I. 103..

< — fruit of, how eaten by goats, lohh

Armament, French, fent againft Morocco, II. 375.

Arzilla, town of, I. 22.

. taken by Don Alphonfo of Portugal, II. 51.

Afs, eaten raw by Saints, I. 183.

Affaffin, juft reward of an, II. 97.

Aftrology ftudied by the Talbes, I. 239,

Atlas, mount, fcite of, I. 12, 62.

■ riches of, I. 14, 106.

Audience given to all ranks, good effects of, II. ^cz.
Augury from the heart of a Sheep, I. 197.
Avarice, allegory concerning, I. 250,
k u.— ■■<■. of the Moors, Ibid,

Avarice,

[ 395 ]

Avarice, anecdotes of, I. 251. Note, and 252.
Azamorc, town of, I. 36.

B.

Barbary fig, I. 101.

Barbers fliops, the rendezvous of newfmongers, I. 264.

Bafliavv, what, I. 262.

Bauinado, guilty and innocent equally liable to, I. 217.

Battle, Moorifli, order of, I. 308. II. 76.

— - of the Seven Counts, II. rS.

of Marcos, II. 31.

. loft by Muley Oatas, II. 77.

Beard, ceremony of (Wearing by, II. 69.

Bearing the high road to preferment, I. 368.

Beef ialted by the Moors, I. 164,, 271.

Bees wax, I. 104.

Bellote, or Acorns, I. Ibid.

Beni-HafTen, or Habat, I. '7.

Beni-Oatas, II. 53.

Ben-Jofeph, reign and acts of, II. 36 to 40.

Beth, river of, I. 26.

Betting, forbidden the Mahometans, I. 25S,

Black, peculiarities of the colour of, I. i%i.

Boar hunting, I. 342.

Boccari, al, or el, troops, confecrated to, I. 306. II. 191.

Bones liable to be mhtaken at the day of judgement, I. 351.

Bonfires of Saint John, I. 292.

— -, conjectures concerning, I. 293.

BoofFer Muley, rival of Muley Abdallah, II. 241, 242.

BoofTega, river of, I. iS.

Bofville, Mr., anecdote of, I. 217.

Bougie, derivation of, I. 272.

Brahem, lad of the dynafty of Morabethoon, II. 19.

— - throws himfelf headlong from a rock, II. 21.

Brambles, camp of Abdallah fwed by, II. 245.

Brandy

C 396 ]

Brandy made 'from* dates, I. 91.

Bread of Morocco, excellent, I. 346.

iSrebes, I. 117.

> diflike, and are more independent than, the Moors,

I. 118.
have a language of their own, I. 119.

vigorous, have fine teeth, Ibid,

• hunt the lion and tiger, I. 120.

■ valour of, II. 182, 185.

Grange notions of, concerning Chriftians, II. i8$»

Sridges, Moorifh, I. 90. '

Budobus, defeat of, II. 37.
Buhafon, valour of, II. 77.

■ active conduct of, in Fez, II. 79.

——— league of, with Salah Reis, II. 85.

Fez, taken by, II. 88.

, victory of, over Muley Abdallah, II. 90.

: — killed in battle, II. 9L

Bukhuan, tremendous eaftle of,. I. 87.

_____ faid to have been built by Abdulmomen, II. 25.

Burial fervice, Moors, ling at, I. 292.

opinion of the Moors, concerning, II. 32.

Butcher- a merciful, II. 216.

Butter, how made, I. 346.

Buttons cut from the clothes of an ambaffador, I. 348.

Cafiles, what, I. 119.

Caliphs, caufes of the decay of the power of the, II, 2.

Carnel, I. 165.

■ engendering of the, Ibid,

fieili of, eaten, I. 166.

* milk of wholefome, Ibid,

i ftomsch of, I. 167.

. hardinef? of, I. 194.

Came'i,

[ 397 ]

Camel, dead, given to poor pilgrims, I. 19;,

■ facrifice of, II. 183.

Camp, Moorifh, before Ceuta, II. 205.

fired by brambles, II. 245.

Camps, how chofen by the Moors, I. 308.
Cannon founderies, I. 309.

■ anecdote of a, II. 181.
CapeSpartel, I. 22.

Captive and Lion, anecdote concerning, I. 340.
Captives, French, ranfomed, II. 105.
Carra, Alcaid, killed by Muley Ifhmael, II. 152.
Carubin, mofque ofj II. 7.

CaiUes, walled, but without artillery, in mofl of the pro-
vinces, for the Bafhaws, I. 86.
Cats, forty, of Muley Ifhmael, I. 339.
Cavalry, Moorifh, I. 307.
Ceuta, town and harbour of, I. 19.
— — taken by Don John of Portugal, II. 47.

— liege of, II. 203.
Chabanets, vide Shabanets.

Chefs and Hazard, Moorifh games, I. 258.
Children, Iigw taught to read, I. 131.
— — run naked to the age of nine or ten, find*
Chriflian and Saint, flory of, I. 357.
Chiiftians, hatred of the Moors to, I. 352.

1 degeneracy of, in Morocco, I. 353.

Circulation^ exceedingly flow, I. 331.

Cities, little need of, in Morocco, II. 297.

Climate of Morocco, I. 93, <^6.

Climi, city of, I. 54.

Clubs, fanatic prediction concerning, II. 317.

Coffee-houfes of Couftantinople, I. 264.

Coin debafed, I. 331.

Coins of Morocco, II. 386.

Cold, degree of, I. 96, 344.

— and heat, remark concerning, I. 344.

Cooks,

[ 398 ]

*

Cooks, European, at Morocco, II, 309.
Coofcoofoo, preparation of, I. 123.

■ nutritive and agreeable, Ibid.
> how eaten, T. 271.

■ bloody head in a dim of, II. 289.

— — — drefled in vaft quantities, II. 310.
Corn, manner of grinding, I. 123.

■ prefer ved, I. 285.

— exportation of, allowed under Sidi Mahomet, II. 299.

— quality of, Ibid,

1 exchanged for artillery, II. 300.

price of, during the famine, II. 337.
Corfairs purfued by a Dutch frigate and wrecked, II. 358.
Corvee, vide Jew-tailors, II. 310.
Court of Morocco, limplicity of, II. 308.
Courtfhip, how performed, I. 275.
Cowdung, burnt, I. 132.
" ufed medicinally, Ibid,

Crefcent, form of the, for the order of battle, I. 308. II. 76.
Crom el Hadgy, character of, II. 107.

— maffacred by his bride, II. 108.

Cruelty, remarkable anecdotes cf, I. 363. II. 121, 134,

146, 178, 214, 216, 224, 258, 287, 288, 289.
Cuftom-houfe duties paid in kind, I. 333. II. 385.
Cuftom-houfe duties of Morocco, II. 385.

D.

Dates plentiful inTafiiet, I. 91.

Day of judgement, odd opinion concerning, I. 351.

Days, length of, I. 96.

Dead, the, not buried in mofques, I. 291,

— when interred, I. 292.

— — wept over on Friday, Ibid,

■ queftioned by the Moors, I. 35.1.

1 fuppofed capable of pain, Ibid,

Dearth

L 399 J

Dearth at Tafilet, II. 115, vide famine.
Death counterfeited by Abdelmeleck, II. 43.
Denmark, court of, deceived by a Jew, II. 359.

. ambaflador of, feized, II. 360.

. — royal African company of. Ibid*

_ — tribute paid by, to Morocco, II. 362.

Dervifes, I. 179.

Defert, danger of crofling, II. 197.

Defpotifm, effects of, I. 247.

Dews, corrolive, will ruft metal worn m the pocket, I. 97.

Difcipline, ill flateof, I. 306, 307.

Dogs, numerous, in Morocco, I. 339.

Don Ferdinand, II. 30.

king of Caftile, II. 3S.

Don Sancho III.— II. 26, 40.

Douhars, what, and how regulated, I. 121.

Doum, or wild palm, made into hats, ba/kets, &c. I,

— fruit of, Ibid.

Dra, province of, I. 11.

Dris, Muley, the friend of Sidi Mahomet, II. 2S0.

■ power and abilities of, II. 303.

cunning of, II. 304.

, — death and character of, II. 30$,

Dromedary, fwiftnefs of the, II. 148.

■■ — white, I.339.

Dubudu, town of, I. 86.
Ducat, current value of, I. 33 $6
Duquella, province of, I. 9.

— « inhabitants of, largo, robufl, and mercantile, Ibid,

Dynafty of Morabethoon, II. 13.

__. of the Moahedins, or Almohades? II. 23,

- of the Benimcrins, II. 36*

-■■.—- of Fileli, II. 117.

Eating

[ 4oo ]
E.

Eating, Moorifli, mode of, I. 271,^347.
Eclipfes, terrible, to the Moors, I. 237, 238.

flrange notion concerning, I. 239.

Edris, adventures of, II. 5.

expulfion of, II. 8, 9.

— veneration of the Moors for, II. 112.

EdrhTites, who, II. 2.
Education, I. 227.

— of the fons of Muley Ifhmael, I. 371.

Eels, manner of catching, in the lakes of Mamora, I. 25.

ElcaifTeria, what, I. 58.

El-EdrhTi the geographer, II. 9.

El-Hadgy, Mahomet, fubdued by Muley Ifhmael, II. 177.

El-Mohadi, revolt of, II. 9, 10.

El- Valid, Muley, character and reign of, II. 104.

— — — — fuffers French captives to be ranfomed, II.

io$.
Emperor, defpotic powrer of, I. 203, 204.

has no firft minifler, I. 206.

gives audience to people of all ranks, I: 213.

title of, firfl aflumed in Morocco, II, 103.

Emperors hold it derogatory to keep their word, I. 208,
Empire of Morocco, ancient wealth of, I. 324.

— — — — - extent and boundaries of, I. 1.

England, ambafTador of, to Muley Ifhmael, II. 159.

firfl made peace with Morocoo, II. 353.

Englifh merchant, fuicide of, II. 284.
Enigmas, a Moorifh diverfion, I. 229.
Efcura, or Afcora, province of, I. 12.
Eunuch, behaviour of a, I. 360.

Famine, dreadful, in Morocco, II. 335,
___— . effects of, II. 339.

Faumite3,

[ 4oi ]

Fatimites, II. 2.

Fedala, road and town of, I. 35.

Fenis, Bafhaw, befriends Muley Mufladi, II. 270.

— ■— gives up Sallee to Sidi Mahomet, II. 283.

is ftoned to death, Ibid,

Fertility of Morocco, I. 98, 343, 344.
Feftivals of the Moors and Mahometans, I. 196.
Fevers, common, I. 232.

■ hot and cold fits of, occaiioned by a fiend, Ibid.

Fez, province of, I. 12.
Fez, city of, I. 70.

when founded, Ibid.

formerly held holy, I. 72.

learning of, I. 72, 228.

profligacy of, I. 73.

manufactures of, I. 73.

florid, but falfe defcription of, by Leo Africanus, I. 76.

— — cannot be entered without an order from the Em-
peror, I. 78.
— — romantic fituation of, Ibid.

- ficklenefs of its inhabitants, I. 79.

• founded by Edrifs, II. 6.

taken by Mulcy Mahomet, II. 82.

privilege of, II. 86.

_i_ taken by Muley Buhafon, II. 88.

cruel treatment of, by Muley Mahomet, II. 92.

, revolt of, under Muley Daiby, II. 233.

makes peace with Muley Daiby, II. 23 ;.

intended deftru&ion of, by Muley Abdaliah, II. 24?.

citizens of, repulfe Muley Abdailah, II. 261.

fpirited anfwers of the citizens of, II. 321.

Fez, New, when and by whom built, I. 80.
Tight between lions, wolves, and dogs, I. 340.
Figs foon worm-eaten, I. xco.
Fileli, dynaity of, II. 117.

Fifli, ftrange reafon for prohibiting the eating of, I. 3^2.
Vol. J I. D d Fleet?

C 402 ]

Fleet, French, under Renaud, II. 193, 200,

Fort Charles abandoned, II. 193.

Foxes, I. 170.

Fruits, early, I. 94.

~~ what native in Morocco, I. 100.

G.

Gallant, ftory and punifhment of a, I. 268.

Ganger, what, I. 145.

Garb, or El-Garb, province of, I. 6.

Gardens of the Moors, I. 263.

Garet, province of, I. 5.

Gayland, Alcaid, II. 128.

• bravery and death of, II. 154.

Gay roan, I. 119.
Gazia, II. 18, 30.

General, a treacherous, put to death, II. 164*
Genoa, treaty of, with Morocco, II. 369.
Genoefe company, failure of, II. 370.
Geography of Morocco, inaccurate, I. 4.
Georgian, beauteous, Itrangled, II. 208.
Gefula, province of, I. 11.
Gibraltar taken by the Moorsf II. 42.

victualling of, II. 355, 365.

Gold duft taken at Tagaret, II. 197.

Golius, in Morocco, II. 103.

Government of Morocco, what, I. 202, 359.

feudal, I. 298, 300, 301.

Governor put to death by Sidi Mahomet, I. 211.

of Fez, anecdotes of, I. 221.

■ condemned to fweep the town he had governed,

I. 262.
Governors ftrioped by the Emperor, I. 213.
Grandees, reafon of, convoking in Morocco, II. 187.
Grapes, large and delicious, I. rco.
Guadel- brief and remarkable hiftory of, II. 327,

2 0 um<

[ 4°3 ]

Gum-Sandarac, I. 103.
■ tranfparent, Ibid.
Gunpowder, game of, I. 265, 341.
. — of Morocco, bad, I. 310.

H.

Hadgy, what, I. 191.

Haicks, how made and worn, I. 12^,

Hameda, ftory of, I. 374.

Harami, what, I. 275.

Hares, good, I. 170.

Harriffa, office of, II. 311.

Harveft, early, I. 94.

Haffen, tower of, I. 32.

Hats firft worn in Africa, I. 153.

Hazar, a kind of Cedar, 1.8.

Hea, province of, I. 9.

■ inhabitants of, refllefs, uncivilized, and factious, I. io»

Head ferved up in a dim of Coofcoofoo, II. 289.

Heads cut off without the owners' knowledge, I. 348.

Hiftorians, itinerant, I. 264.

Holland and Morocco, war between, II. 332.

quarrel of Sidi Mahomet with, II. 357.

Horfemen, Moors excellent, I. 337, 341.
Horfes, numerous and good, I. 167.
. ftuds of, kept by the Emperor and Grandees, Hid.

Moors imagine the Chriflians have no, I. 338.

■ rerered as Saints, Ibid.

Houfes feldom more than one ftory high, I. 142.

* mode of building, Ibid.

■ ■ «■ road over the tops of, I. 364.
Hunting theboar: I. 342.

D d z Infantry,

[ 404 ]
I.

Infantry, weak ftate of, I. 307.
Inheritance, laws of, I. 27$.
Inoculation praclifed, I. 233.
Infunedions, frequent, I. 302. /

■ — how promoted and punillicd by Sidi Maho-

met, II. 316, 318.
Interregnum of the kingdom of Fez. II. 49.
Ifac, fun of Brahem, flrangled, II. 24.
Ifhmael, Muley, acceffion of, II. 148.

» avarice of, I. 369, 370.

» hypocrify of, I. 369.

» cruelty of, I. 370.

i guilty confcience of, I. 373.

— mean appearance of, I. 374.

• — — caprice of, I. 375.

s oppofed by his nephew, Muley Achmet, II.

ICO.

victories of, over Muley Achmet, II. 151^

■57-

- conquers Fez, II. 135.

cruelty of, I. 340, 358, 362, 3%, 366,

368. II. 152, 158, 179, 216, 224, Pailim.
*- avarice of, II. 158, 172.
anecdotes of the deceit of, II. i6a, 171,

220.

* attempted to be aiTailinated, II. 164.

repulfed at Santa Cruz, II. 165.

perfidy of, II. 168.

rage of, at entering Morocco, II. 175.

revok quelled by, II. 1 77.

fends ten thou land heads to Y<tz and Mo-

rocco, II. 178.

concubines of, II. 179.

*— repulfed by the Brebes, II. 18:,

lihmael,

C 405 ]

Ifhmael, Muley, puTion of, for building, II. \Cji.

■ Chriitian captives, how punifhed by, II.

:92.

remarkable faying of, II. 19^0
rebellious fons of, II. 306.

- defeated by the Algcrines, II. 211.

- anecdotes of the caprice of, I. 338, 33^

366, 367, 368. II. 218.

— pretended illnefs of, II. 220.

— ■ murders his fon, II. 212.

— ■ ■ ■- character of, II. 2 2d.

numerous defcendants of, Ibid,

.1 anecdote of, vide Meffiah.

— and Spaniard, anecdote of, I. 36;

J-

Jacob Almonfor, palace of, at Rabat, I. 29.

»- n«- and fifherman, ftory of, I. 84.

Jew of the mountain mafTaered by Muley Arfhic, II. 1230

tailors, how treated, II. 310.

Jewels, uncommon, I. 145.

Jews in Morocco, formerly much more numerous, I. 157.

— ill treated and defpifed, Hid. 157, 353.

-— — underiland trade better than the Moors, I. 158.

employed by the Emperor, Ibid.

«— — — of Morocco, fuperflitious, I. 159.

■ of Morocco, all know Hebrew, I. 160.

— — Shrieks and lamentations of hired women at the fu=

nerals of the, I. 161.
— — the tax-gatherers, I. 326.

taxation of the, I. 327.

ftrange reafon why their prayers are granted, I. 346.

two rival, anecdote of, I. 358.

generoully protected by Muley Ali, II. 341.

— — wives of the, hanJfome and gallant, I. 143, 159.

P d 3 John,

r 4*6 ]

John, Saint, conjectures concerning the feflival of, I. 293,
Jofeph, Ben Jacob, II. 41.
Jofeph Teffifin, II. 15.

conquers the kingdom of Fez, II. 16.

• alliance of, fought by the Mahometans of

Spain, II. 17.
. gains the battle of the feven Counts, II. i2f

Jofeph, fon of Abdulmornen, acts of, II. 26.

follow the letter of the law, I. 220.
Juflice, ri ".kulous parade of, I. 339.

K.

Knight of the Afs, a ufurper, called the, II. 11,
JCnowledge, ftate of, among the Moors, I. 226.

Lances darted into the air and caught, I. 341, 36S.
Language of the Brebes, Shellu, and Moors, compared, I.

244.
Laracha, town of, I. 23.

— river of, I. 24.

taken by Muley Ifhmael, II. 203.

Law, men of the, powerlefs, I. 219.

for the fafety of travellers, I. 133. II* 140,

Laws, code of religious, I. 215.

Leather, the table and table cloth of the Moors, I. 347.

Legs thought handfome when thick, I. 151.

Lela, what, II. 207.

Lela, Zidana, character of, II. 208.

• wicked intrigues of, Ibid. 209.

■— '• inhuman cruelty of, II. 214.

—— — daring ambition of, II. 221.

__. — ~. anecdotes of the cruelty of, II. 224.

Lena,

[ 407 ]

Lena, Coneta, mother of Muley Abdullah, prudence of,

IL 242.

—— — — mercy and wifdom of, II. 244, 245, 250.

^ pilgrimage of, II. 249.

. _ female flave aflaiiinated in the arms of, II.

2^2.
. — . money promifed by, to the Negroes, II.

254-

Liar, anecdote concerning, I. 349.
Limbs amputated, how dreffed, I. 269.
Lions not uncommon, I. 1 70.

— feed on young boars, I. 171.
-— — manner of hunting, Ibid.

*— — one-and-twenty killed by one Moor, Hid.

— — taken alive, I. 172.
and Brcbe, ftory of, Ibid.

kept for itate by the Emperor, I. 174.

— — flow to attack man, Ibid.

mode of entrapping the young boar, I. 17$.

flefhof, eaten by the Moors, I. 176.

fighting of, I. 340.

Locufls, I. 95.

. eat by the Moors like red herrings, Ibid.

. dreadful ravages of, II. 333.

Loueti, the Alcaid, influence of, II. 127, 133.

Loyalty of Muley Ali, II. 319.

Lucas, Alcaid, puniflied, II. 286.

Lucos, river of, theLixos of the Greeks, I. 23, 83, 84*

Ludaya, what, II. 191,

Lumthunes, II. 13.

Lunar years, I. 273.

M.

Magafln, what, I. 208.

Mahomet, Abdullah, and Abdulmomen, II. 21.

D d 4 Mahomet,.

[ 4o3 ]

Mahomet, Ben Achmet, a Sharif, and his three fons, II. ^4.

« and his three fons, hypocrify and

ambition of, JI. 54, Paffim.

- and his three fons, fufpected by

Muley NafTer, II. 57.

. and h;s three fons, progrefs of,

II. 58.

Mahomet, Ben Naffer, defeated, II. 34.

• ■ — death of, II. 35.

Mahometanifm, by character defpotic, II. 112-.
Mamora, river of, I. 6, 7.
■ — fort of, I. 26.

taken by Muley Ifhmael, II. 199.

Manfooria, caiHe of, I. 34. — built by Almonfor, II. 29.
Manufcripts, Arabic, in Spain, I. 231.
Marabout put to death by Sidi Mahomet, II. 317.

«■— — fent by Mahomet, II. 160.

— beheaded by Muley Abdallah, II. 243.

Marakefcb, II. 15.

Mares, fuppofed error concerning, I. 168,338.

and their colts houfed in their tents, I. 169.

Markets, daily, I. 134.

■■ buffoons, fingers, dancers, barbers, and furgeons,

at, Ibid.
Marriage ceremonies of the Moon, I. 130, 275.
- - licentious fongs at, I. 277.

. fefiivais, expenfive, I. 278.

Matamores to preferve corn, I. 35, 28^.
Maufoleum, in memory of Muley Mahomet, II. 21S.

, — ' —in memory of Muley Zidan, II. 223.

Mazagan, city of, I. 37.

. magnificent ciitern at, I. 38.

■m fanatic anecdote concerning, I. 39.

«— . taken by Sidi Mahomet, II. 326.

Meafures of Morocco, II. 388.
Mechanic arts, rudefrateof, I. 259,

Mediona,

C 409 ]

Mediona, cattle of, I. 87.

Melek Alcaid, cruel death of, II. 214.

Melilla, city of, I. 17.

— — — liege of, II. 328.

Mequinez, city of, I. 65.

■■ — Jews quarter at, I. 66.

— Emperor's palace, I. 67.

_ inhabitants affable, I. 69.

. women of, handfome, fliew themfelves to Euro-
peans, Ibid.

— Spanifh convent at, I. 70.

, . by whom founded, II. 8.

— « abandoned by Muley Mahomet, II. 89.
Mefhooar, what, I. 62, 209, 210.
Meffiah, coming of the, anecdote concerning, I. 354.
Milood, afeftival, I. 198.
Mines of iron. I. 106.
• of copper, Ibid.

Mimboya, I. 119.
Mogodore, town of, I. 43,

begun in 1 760, I. 44.

port of, I. 46.

— .— built by Sidi Mahomet, II. 295.

Money buried, I. 251, 287.
Monopolies, remark concerning, II. 3S1.
Moors, indolent, I. 99, 349.

ancient commerce of the, conjectures on, I. ig&.

plead by attorney, I. 216.

feldom flrike, I. 219.

■ difpofed to flavery, I. 248,

. naturally meager. I. 249.

- ■ ■ — form and features of, Ibid.
.— - mournful looks of, Ibid.

■ . - violence of their paflions, I. 2^1.
m •• ■ . lefs fenfible of pain than Europeans, I. 267, 269.

— little dainty, I. 270,

Moors, •

C 410 ]

Moors chief meal after fun-fct, I. 270.
»■ imagine themfelves free, I. 280.

■ treat their (laves better than Europeans, Ibid.
— avidity and meannefs of the, I. 347.

— . jealoufy of the, I. 356.

. fanaticii'm of, II. 112.

■ resignation of the, II. 337.

Moors of the cities affirm themfelves to be Arabs, I. 140.

■ — feldom have more than one wife, I. 143*

. — have little variety of drefs, I. 144.

Moors of the country, manners of, I. 121.

■ form of their tents, Ihid.

- Simplicity of the, in their camps,

I. 122,

marry, Ibid.

hofpitality of, I. 124.
drefs of, I. 126.
wear no linen, Ibid,.
marriages of, I. 130.
quarrelfome, Ibid.
different tribes of, feldom inter-
antediluvian, I. 126, 136.
anecdotes of the ignorance of, 1. 136.
have no glafs, I. 137.
receive no ideas from pictures, I. 138.

Morabethoon, or Morabites, II. 14.

*■ — ; all put to death, II. 24.

Morbeya, river of, true name of, I. 37,87.

pafTage of, I. 89, 90.

Morocco, city of, I. 54.

■ ■ founded by Abu TeiTifin, I. 5$,

. pleafant plain of, I. 56.

- ' ■ — quarter of the Jews, I. 59.

■■ ■ Emperor's palace, Ibid.

1 paffed through a lieve, II, 23, 2.

~ — — frormed by Almonfor, II. 32.

Morocco,

[ 4" ]

Morocco, taken by Muley Mohamet, II. 72.

■ ■ taken and plundered by the Negroes, H. 253.
Morocco, empire of, origin of the inhabitants of, I. 115.

■ women, how employed, I. 122, 125.

«— — — no inns in the provinces, I. 132.

- not fortified, I. 304.

founded in blood, II. 114.

— depopulation accounted for, II. 180.

■ Hate of, under Muley Abdallah, II. 293.
Mofque pulled down becaufe defiled, I. 350.
Mofques, water in all, Ibid.

— Jew or Chriflian mull not enter the, I. 352.

Motard, Captain, bravery of, I. 317.
Mules, the breeding of, encouraged, I. 169.

■ ufed for travelling, I. 82.

»■ trade of the Englifhin, II. 356.

Muley, and Sidi, meaning of, I. 319.
Muley Abdallah, reign of, II. 93.

■■ — cruelty of, II. 94.

* unfuccefsful attack on Mazagan, II. 96.

■ character of, II. 97.

Muley Abdallah, vide Abdallah.

Muley Abdelmeleck, death of, in the moment of victory, II. 99
Muley Achmet, brother of Abdelmeleck, reign of, II. 99.
Muley Achmet, nephew of Ifhmael, partifans of, in the city
of Morocco, II. 150.

^ defeated by Muley Ifhmael, II. 151.

faved by the hofpitality of a Shaik, II. 152.

— ■ again defeated, II. 157.

. . recovers the city of Morocco, II. 162.

'— defeats Gerari, Ibid.

treachery of a general of, II. 163.

more beloved than Muky Ifhmael, II. 164.

• furprized by Muley Ifhmael, II. 166.

————— defeated after victory, II. 167.

■ befieged in Morocco, II. 168.

Muley

[ 4*2 J

Muley Achmet, danger of, II. 170.

> -z; flight of, from Morocco, II. 174.

' expedition of, into Sudan, II, 196.

Tagaret, taken by, II. 197.

Muley Achmet, Sharif, reign of, II. 61.

■ treachery of, II. 68, 71.

■ taken by his brother, II. 70.

• ft misfortunes of, II. 72. Paffim.

— — ~— ~— . murdered in prifon, II. 93.

Muley Achmet Shaik, reign, character, and death of, II, 106.
Muley Ali, or Muley Sharif, reign of, piety and chara&er,

II. 115. Paffim.
Muley Ali, fon of Sidi Mahomet, loyalty of, II. 319.
— — - death and excellent character of, II. 340.
— brother of Muley Abdallah, elected emperor by

the Negroes, II. 251.

■ ferocity and avarice of, II. 2 $2.

• money promifed to the Negroes by, II. 2^3.

— depofed, II. 254.

Muley Arfhid, rebellion of, II. 120.

ingratitude of, to a faithful (lave, II. 121.

■ ftratagems and cunning of, II. 121, 123,

124.

>"■ ■' abilities and diffimulation of, II. 1220

enterprizes of, II. 123.

acceffion cf, II. 126.

, — cruelty of, II. 121, 123, 124, 126, 129,

i3°5 J33> J39> x42> x46-
conquers of, II. 122, 124, 126, 128, 129,

*36-

repulfed by the king of Sudan. II. 137,

^— «— .. buildings of, II, 141.

•?—•— » — — death of, II. 145.
Muley Daiby, fize and perlbn of, I. 37$.
— drunkennefs of, Ibid,

— and a Jew, anecdote of, I. 376.

Muley j

[ 4i3 1

Muley Daiby, and a monkey, anecdote of, I. 376.

named fucceffor by Muley Ifhmael, II. 225.

■ acceffion of, II, 229.

■ largefsof, to the Negro troops, II. 230.

■ — fubdues the infurgents of Duquella, Ibid,
— , avarice of, II. 231.

— — , drunkennefs of, II. 233, 236.

■ cruelty of, II. 233.

teeth drawn by command of, I. 363,
rciloration of, II. 239.

— death of, II. 240.

Muley Dris, vide Dris.

Muley Haran, king of Tafilet, II. 149.

... reconciles his brother and nephew, II. 173.

dethroned, II. 17^.

Muley Ifhmael, vide Ifhmael.

Muley Mahomet, fnperior qualities of, II. 207, 211,
— — made governor of Suz, II. 209,

— rebellion of, II. 210.

> — takes Morocco, II. 212.

■ — defeated b^ Muley Zidan, II, 214*

— taken priibner, II. 215-
punifliment of, II. 2 16,

Muley Mahomet OolDelAriba made Emperor, II. 2<6,
. again proclaimed,

— — ineffectual expedition of, II. 263,

depofed, II, 264.

amiable character of, Ibid*

Muley Meheris, rebellion of, II. 142.
Muley Mohamet, king of Tarudimt. II. 63,

. r defeats the king of Fez, II. 64.

— and his brother, enterprizes of, II. 66,

— — « kingdom of Tafilet feized by, Ibid.

_ — . , and his brother, quarrel between, II. 67,

mm — — - — — - — murders his nephews, II. 91,

» — , , aflaffinated fc . irk, II. 93..

Muley

[ 4H ]

Muley Mohamet, the Negro, cruelty of, II. 90.

dethroned, Ibid,

Muley Mohamet, fon of Muley Sharif, reign of, II. 120*

— defeat and death of, II. 125.

Muley Muftadi, elected by the Negroes, II. 266.

■ retires to, and trades at Arzilla, II. 267,

■ takes refuge in Sallee, II. 268.

— — delivered from imprifonment, II. 269.

... again retires to Arzilla, II. 270.

► death of, II. 281.

Muley Shaik, firft of the Merini, II. 51.

Muley Sidan, fon of the fecond Muley Achmet, II. 68, 70.

1 , — reign of, II. 10 1.

Muley Yezid, vide Yezid.

Mulluvia, river of, I. £, 17,86, II. 181.

Mufic, I. 263.

Moorifh, I. 342.

Mufkets, Moorifh, I. 310.

J- difcharged in the face of an ambalTador, I. 342.

N.

Naffer, Bufhentuf, affaffinated, II. 60*

Negro women paint their cheeks, I. 284.

_. ibldiers, eftablifbment of, I- 297*

— reduction of, I. 298, 299.

Have, fidelity and tragical death of, II. 121.

troops, how confecrated, II. 190.

Negroes fort-boded flavery at the fight of Europeans, I. 1 *o«

ftate of, among the Moors, I. 279, 280, 282.

. ! — remarkably ch earful and talkative, I. 282.

» marriages of, Ibid.

— - — houfehold furniture of, f. 283.

. effect of the appearance of, on the Arabs, II. 4,

brought to Morocco by Muley Arfhid, II. 138.

increafed and fettled by Muley lilimael, II. 188,

_ _ ilate of, II. iSq<

Negroes

[ 4i5 ]

Negroes and Ludaya, the Handing army of Morocco, II. 19X.
— — — effects of the introduction of the, II. 227.
— — — power of the, II. 228.

oppofe Abdelmeleck, II. 235.

hated by Muley Abdallah, II. 250.

- — — — take and plunder Morocco, II. 253.

refufe to deliver up their general, II. 256,

difTenfions among, II. 257.

neutrality of, II. 261.

— - — covetous avidity of, II. 254, 260, 261, 262, 264.

diffatisried with Muley Abdallah, II. 265.

enfeebled by war, II. 270.

cut off by Abdallah, II. 271.

revolt of, under Sidi Mahomet, II. 318.

— how difarmed by Sidi Mahomet, II. 323.

— infolence and power of, I. 359.

Niger and Nile, I. 290.

Oak, forefis of, I. 104.

Oatas, Muley, acceffion of, II. 62.

■ defeated by the Sharifs, II. 65.

attacked by Muley Mohamet, II. 75.

_____ __»-__> defeated and taken prifcner, II. 77.

- affaffinated, II. 83.

Obeidallah, II. 11.

Officers, principal, the domsftics of the Emperor, I. 209.

of Abdallah dragged at the tails of mules, II. 249.

Olive trees, I. 102.

Olon, M. de Saint, fent ambaflador to Mcquinez, II. iou

Oppreffion, Moorifli, I. 343.

Ornaments, marks of ilavery, originally, I. 152.

Oxen plentiful, but fn.aU, I. 164, 343.

Pain,

[ 4i6 ]

Pain, Moors lefs fenfible of, than Europeans, I. 267, 269.
Paint and wafhes of the Moorifh women, I. 127, 129, 153*
Painters fent to Morocco by Philip II. — II. 101.
Palace built by Muley Ifhmael, J. 364. II. 178.
Palm tree, I. 104.
Partridges, infipid, I. 170.
Patriotifm of a citizen of Rabat, II. 284.
Peas and beans fold by tale during the famine, II. 337.
Perflan general, valour of,. II. 78.
Phyfic, {late of, I. 232.
Fhyficians, whom, Ib'uL
Pigeons, large and excellent, I. 170.
1 ■ itolen, anecdote of, II. 224.
Pilgrimage, veneration for thofe who have made a, I. 191..

195.
— — — - renders the beaflof burthen holy, I. 192-
— - time of making, I. 193.

« route of the caravan of, I. 194.

Pirates of Barbary, II. 351.

Plague in Morocco, dreadful, II. 180,

in 1752, II.275.

foretold in Turkey, III J.

Population of Morocco, I. 303.

Portugal and Morocco, treaty between, II. 368*

Portuguefe in Morocco, II. 53, 57, 67.

Poultry abundant, not good, I. 170.

Power, maritime, of Morocco, I. 312, 316, 319.

military, of Morocco, I. 295, 303, 306.

» » how eiiabliihed, I. 296*

Prayer, opinion of the Moors concerning, I. 345.
Prayers, Moorifl), I. 350.

the Moors, how called to, Ib'uL

Preachers pur. to death, II. 16.

Predef-

[ 4i7 ]

Predeitination, 1.200,366. II. 114,338,

Prefents, or bribery, at court, I, 212.

Prickly pear, I. 161.

Progrefs, flow, of the Moors towards refinement, I. 366*

Prophecy, Moorifh, I. 351.

Proverb, Moorifh, I. 272, 278.

Provinces of Morocco, I. 1, 2,

Pudding, anecdote of, I. 347.

Punifhments, chiefly pecuniary, I. 218.

Purchafmgof men, barbarous cuftomof, I. 358.

Purfe, ftory of a, I. 357.

Quintal of filver, what, II. 1^9.

R.

Rabat, town of, I. 28.

■ batteries of, rebuilt by an Englifh renegado, I.- 29^

m walls of, and delightful gardens, I. 30.

built by Almonfor, II. 29.

Rabat and Sallee befieged by Sidi Mahomet, II. 22l«

fevere treatment of, II. 327.

"■ how preferved from locufts, II. 334.

Rabits found only in the north of the empire, I. 1 70*
Ragufa, (hip of, condemned, II. 371.
Rain, Moors fit naked in, I. 346.

■ how prayed for, I. 345.

Rains, regular and abundant, I» 94.

heavy, I. 344. •

Rank, little diftindtion of, I. 260, 262. -

->- — inftability of, Ibid.

Raquette, I. 101.

Raialema, remarkable river of, I. So*

Vol. II. £ e Raw

[ 4i8 ]

Raw hides, plentiful, I. 164. .
Religion of the Moors* I. 177.

, . which way, different in practice

from that of the Turks, I. 178.
Ramna, province of, I. 12.
Renegado, anecdote of a, II. 142.
Renegadoes defpifed, I. 15;.

I intermarry only with each other, Hid*

repent, and wifh to efcape, I. 1 $6.

Reply of Muley Oatas to Muley Mohamet, II. 78.

Revenues of Morocco, I. 322.

Revolt of Muley Meffaoot, II. 64.

Rhyming not uncommon among the Moots, I. 229.

Rif, province of, I. 6.

Riperda, the Duke de, anecdotes of, II. 276.

Rio Salado, battle of, II. 44.

River of Negroes, battle of the, II- 6'.

Roebuck, I. 170.

Rofarics played with like fans, I. 146.

Sabbath, Mooriih, I. 273, 351.

■ derivation of, I. 273.

Sabo, what, I. 209.

Sabres, manufactured, I. 310.

Sacrifices, remark concerning, II. 183.

Saddles, form of, I. 337*

Saffi, tovvnof, I. 41.

tombs and fanctuaries of, I. 42.

Said, Barrax, fhort reign and death of, II. 35.

Said, II. 41.

Said, brother of Abu-Said, valour of, II. 40.

Sailors, Moorifh, I. 320.

Saint, criminal, and emperor, ftory of, I. 181.

— — character and cunning of one, I. 186.

Saint,

[ 4'9 1

Saint, carnal knowledge of one, with a woman, in the open

flreet, I. 187,356.
, female, proftkute'd herfelf for the fervice of paffen-

gers, I. 188.

. made humane by a bribe, I. 190.

— - a man made a, for being a rafcal, I. 356.
Saints, or Cantons, by trade, I. 180.

- fools, madmen, and: ideots, acknowledged to be,

Ibid, vide Horfes.

^ invoked by the women to make them fertile, 1. 182.

» eat fi orpions, Ibid,

» how venerated, I. 180, 183.

numerous, I. 184,

put to death by Muley Abdullah, II. 288.

Salah Reis, in league with Muley Buhafon, II. 85.
- defeats Muley Abdallah, II. 86.

. .- victory of, at the pafTage of the Seboo, II. 870

. difcontented with Buhafon, II. 89.

Sallee, town of, I. 27.
- river of, Ibid,

rovers, I. 313.

ftones, their chief ammunition, I. 314.

Sallee and Rabat, government of, I.3X5.

, civil war between, II. 269.

- municipal government of, II. 269, 281.

Salt pits, I. 104.
Salutation, manner of, I. 343.
Sanctaren, battle of, II. 27.

Sanctuaries, or hofpitiums, where criminals are protected,
I. 180, 188.

r violated by Muley Abdallah, II. 2$g.

Sands of the defert, moving, I. 194. II*. 197.
Santa Cruz, town of, I. 46.

«— by whom built, I. 47.

___ ruined by Sidi Mahomet, I. n, 47.

. taken by Muley Mohamet, II. 66.

E c z Santa

[ 420 ]

Santa Cruz, deferted in terror, II. 219.
Scarifications, mode of making, I. 135.
Scavenger and murdered woman, I. 223.
Sebaftian, king of Portugal, defeat of, II. 99'
SeboOj river of, I. 2<5.

— pafTage pf, difputed, II. 87.

Selim, Duquelli, hatred of Abdallah to, II. 255.

I killed by Abdallah, II. 258.

Seraglios of the Emperor and Grand Signior compared, IX,

312.
Servility, Moorifh, I. 348,
Setier of Paris, what, I. 328.
Shabanets, whom, II. 131

- fubjeded by Muley Arftiid, II. 135,
— — — — tortured by Muley Iflimael, II. 158.
Shad fifhery, I. 27.
Shaik, generality of a, II. 152.

•— — treacheroully murdered by Muley Iflimael, II. 172,
» put to death by the forgery of Lela Zidana, II. 209.

Sharifs of the Mereni, II. 53.
— — - maflacred by Crom El Hadgy, II. 106.
Shaus, or Chans, province of, I. 13, 86.
Shavoya, or Chavoya, province of, I. 13.

mountaineers of, maflacred by Muley Ifhmae!?

II. 158.
Sheep, hairy, and men woolly, I. 112.
■ and wool of Morocco, I, 163.

few black, I.- 164.

Sheila, a holy town, I. 34.

Shellu, lefs ferocious than the Brebes, J. 120*

Sherlof, general, brave conduct of, II. 329.

Sherma, or Cherma, province of, I. 12.

Shewmen and dancers, L 264.

Ships of enemies allowed to trade with Morocco^ II. 29^

383.
Shirts worn over the drefs, 1. 145.

Sidi

[ 421 3

Sidi Mahomet, agitation of, at putting a governor to death

I. 211.

artillery of, I. 309.

knowledge of, how acquired, II. 279.

s 1 power of, while prince, II. 2S0, 286.

feverity of, to Sallee and Rabat, II. 282,

283, 284, 326.

guilty of one aft of cruelty, II. 285.

, .__ views of, on his fucceiiion, II. 203. Paffim

:?3<

buildings of, II. 295, 296, 327.

a merchant, II. 298.

character and manners of, II. 307, 343.

domeftics of, new clothed annually, II. 310.

prudence of the mil wife of, II. 3 1 3.

children of, how provided for, Ibid,

ill education of the fons of, Ibid.

ftrange equivocation of, II. 329.

failure of, the attempt of, on Melilla, II.

33°-

artifice of, toappeafehis fubjefts, II. 331.

declares war againft Holland, II. 322.

great expences, and little wealth of, II. 345.

public declaration of peace by, IJ. 370.

Silver paid by weight, II. 159.

Slave trade, I. 111, 113, 281.

Slinging, ancient and modern practice of, I. 314-

Small-pox little mifchievous, I. 233.

Snipes numerous, I. 170.

Soc, vide markets.

Soil of Morocco, I. 96.

, light is ploughed with wooden plough-

fhares, I. 97.
Sorcerers, I. 288.
Southern Moors, bigotry and thievery of, J. 50.

~ — — — make their ablutions with fand, I. 51,

Spain

C 422 ]

Spain offended by Sidi Mahomet, II. 329, 332.

■ armament of, againft Algiers, II. 331.

Spaniard and Englifhman, I. 376.

Spaniard and Muley Iilima ■;:!, I. 367.

Spanifh convent at Mequinez for the relief of captives, I. 70? '

-. fathers of, manners of phyficking the Moors, Ibid.

Spanifh Moors, family names of, preferved in Morocco

J. 141.
Speech of Muley Mohamet to his brother, II. 74.
— , -—. to his foidiers and chiefs, 11 %

69, 76.
Stone, difeafe of the, cut for by the Moors, I. 2$6r
Storks, finful to kill, J. 289.

« emigration and food of, I. 290.

. Arabs metamorphofed into, I. 339.

Stratagem of Muley Mohamet, II. 77, 91.

Streets, dirtynefs of, I. 364.

Succeffion of Morocco precarious, II. 278, 348*

Sudan, generality of the king of, II. 138.

— — invaded by Muley Achmet, II. J 96.

Suera, town of, I. 43.

Sugulmeffa, city of, I. t£, 92.

~» derivation of, I. 92.

Sun adored by the Negroes, II. 189.

Surgery, ftate of, I. 135, 236, 269.

Sus, or Suz, province of, decayed by the 4eft ruction of

Santa Cruz, I. 1 1.
Sweden, prelents fent by, to Morocco, II. 362.
jSwlae held unclean, I. 350.

Tafilet, or Sugulmeffa, kingdom of, I. 15, 99.
* — —- «— dates of Ibid.
*■ taken by itratagem, II. 91.

*—— revolt of, II. 182.

Tafiiei

[ 4^3 ]

Tafilet punifned by Sidi Maho;net, II. 339.
Tagaret, capital of Sudan, taken, II. 197.
Tailors, vide Jews.
Talbes, what, I. 215, 227, 246, 289.
Tangiers, town of, I. 20.

i — ceded to England in 1662, If Id,

— bay of, favourable to piracy, I. 21.

. the Englifh attacked in, II. 1S0.

befieged by Muley Ifhmael, II. 192.

abandoned by the Englifh, II. 202.

. taken by Muley Abdallah, II. 268.

indulgence granted the Spaniards at, II. 366.

Tangiersand Tetuan, favourable fituationof, I. 320.
Tanfif, river of, I. 9, 42, 63.
Tarudant, where, I. 48.

city of, I. 54.

Taxation, ftate of, I. 330.

of the Jews, I. 327, 331.

exceffive, I. 334.

~ impolicy of, II. 297, 301.

Taxes allowed by the Koran, I. 322.

— — cafual, what, I. 332.

Tea drank by the Moors, I. 27a.

Tedla, province of, I. 13.

Teeth drawn as a puifhment, I. 363.

Temperance of the Moors, I. 270, 347. II. 309.

Temfena, province of, I. 8.

— — fertility and falubrity of, Ibid*

Tents of the Moors, I. 122.

Terraces on the tops of all houfes, I. 143,

Tefa, cattle and town of, I. 86.

Tetuan, city and port of, I. 18.

— revolt of, under Muley Daiby, II, 233.

Theft, manner of preventing, I. 133.

Thieves, I. 254.

-— - anecdotes of, I. 254, 256, 258,

Thic

[ 424 ]

Thieves, how puniihed, I. 258, 268.
Tigers common, I. 170.

- - royal, unknown in Morocco, I. 171.
^ - hunted by the Moors, Ibid,

— — tamed, I. 175.

Timoor, I. 119.

Tiles, coloured, I, 58, 69.

Titus, ruins of, I. 37.

Tombs, Moorifh, not pompous, I. 291-

Toornadis, what, I. 1 56.

Torture of the iron ring, I. 362.

Toffingv punifhing of, I. 362.

Towns of Morocco ill fortified, I. 1 7.

Trade, increafe of, in Morocco, II. 297.

r- how injured by Sidi Mahomet, IT. 298.

—— of the Englifh. to Morocco, II. 355.

- between Holland and Morocco, II. 358.

■ between Spain and Morocco, cafual^ II. 366.
— — — balance of, in favour of Morocco, II. 367.

- of France, progrefs of, II. 373.

between Fra nee and Morocco, II. 378. Paffim.

free, of Morocco, remarks on, II. 383*

Trades, no difnonour to Grandees, I. 262,

Tradefmen of Fez mafTacred by Muley Arfhid, II. 133.

■ obliged to work gratis, II. 310.

Tradition, Mahometan, II. ir.

Travellers fuppofed fafe, if a Saint be in company, I. 189,
Travelling, expeditious, between Fez andMequinez, I. 82,
Treaties between Europe and Barbary, motives for the^

II. 3C2,

■ of England and Morocco, II. 354.

■■^ between Denmark and Morocco, II. 360.

~ between Sweden and Morocco, II. 362.

__ between Venice and Morocco, II, 363.

_— «~ \ ■■:,; ,n Spain at d Morocco, II. 364, 36$.
— _.„.. between Portugal c-mu Morocco, JI. 368.

Treaties

[ 4^5 }

Treaties between Tufcany, Vienna, and Morocco, H.

— between the Unii occo, II. 3

- — between France and Morocco, II. 377*

Trcafury, impoverished Sate vL I. 335".

Tremecen taken by the fens of Mule} Mohamet, II. S4.

recovered by the Algeriaes, II 65.

. people of, demand affiUance againft the .

II. 194.
Ty tbes. in kind, I. 323, 330.
■ paid by tradefmen, II. 310,

I".

Umbrella, the diftinelive mark of royalty, I. 210, II. 307.
United States of America, treat}- of, with Sidi Mahomet,
II. 37z.

V.

;dia, town of, I. 39.
Veles de Pegncn, or Gomcra, foitrefs of, I.
Venice and Morocco, peace between* II. 5'
- — — tribute pai I by, i
Virginity, proofs of, I. 277, 278.
Vifks, manner of performing, I* 11J3.
Vizier, a, fewed up in an ox hide, II.

. — remark concerning the title of, YL -

Vied, d'Elgerid, I. 1$.
Vied, de Nun, I. 11.

■» — — — province of, I. 48.

■ ■ ■ — arbarous inhabitants .of, '

Voltabe, error of, I. 141.

* wrongly affertsthe Turks inoa

Vow ..f Abduimomen, II. 23.

Vou, II. ' •

[ 426 ]

w.

Wages not pa!3 by the Emperor, II. 310.

Walking, anecdote concerning;, I. 350,

Wail, white wall led, anecdote of, I. 144.

Walnuts, anecdote of, II. 146.

Wants of the Moors, few, I. 328.

Wars, civil, probable in Morocco hereafter, II. 347,

Watch dogs of the Douhars, I. 121.

Water melons, common, I. 100.

■ drank out of the itomachs of dead camels, I. 195.

Wax candles, I. 272.

Wealth, ancient of Morocco, I. 324, 325.

left by Muley Ifhmael, II. 231.

Weaving, manner of, I. 125.

Weights of Morocco, II. 387,

Wild boar, common in Morocco, I. 175.

- ~ how caught by the Lion, Ibid,

. — fometimes conquers the Lien, Ibid,

Windus, Mr. the pocket of, picked, 1. 348.

Wives and concubines of the Moors, I. 122, 12$, 143,

274, 279.
» of Muley Daiby, the revolt of, II. 237.

Woman murdered, Itory of, I. 221.
Women, ornaments of the, I. 126.

. mode of painting themfelves, I. 127, 129.

«•--— treated as Haves by the country Moors, and yoked

to the plough with mules, &c. I. 128.
- , . — — of the citie9 always veiled, I. )47«
» Ale w their faces to foreigners, Ibid,

.1 — foon old, I. 148.

■ ■ licentious, Ibid,

1 of the fouth, handfomefr, I. 149.
_- — prefented for the ufe of travellers as an act of

hofpitality, Ibid,

T Women

[ 427 1

Women of the cities more addicted to drefs than thofe cf
the country, I. 149.

— , drefs of the, I. 150.

t« fattened like fowls, I. 151-

m ornaments of, Ibid.

m obliged to eat their own breafts, II. 224.

— treatment of, by Sidi Mahomet, II. 311..

Woodcocks fcarce, I. 170.

Wreftling, vide Spaniard and Englifhrnaiio

Yezid, revolt of, II. 3.

Yezid, Muley, revolt of, II. 319.

„ timidity of, II. 320.

—— fent on pilgrimage, II. 322*

z.

Zaaron, a holy mountain, I. 83.

Zeneters malTacred, II. 16.

— — rebellion of, II. 27.

Zidan, Muiey, fent againft Muley Mahomet, II. 213.

. barbarous character of, II. 218.

, . fufpe<5ted by his father, II. 219.
— __ — murdered by his wives, II. 222.
Zic, Muley, elected Emperor, II. 264.

ERRATUM.
Vol. I. page 269, line 5, for tar9 read pitch.

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